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SPEEDWAY: Oxford on the brink after talks break down
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| Oxford promoter Allen Trump |
Oxford speedway is on the brink of closure, writes ROBERT PEASLEY.
Talks have broken down between stadium owners, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA), and speedway promoter Allen Trump regarding a lease for next season - and it looks like stock cars could be set to replace speedway at the stadium.
Cheetahs will lose their provisional place in the Premier League, which was being held open by the sport's authorities until tomorrow.
And with the GRA demanding a yearly rent of £56,000, there seems no chance of Conference League racing - which provides just 16 meetings a season - being staged either.
It means that unless there is a major change from one of the parties, this is likely to be the end of Oxford Speedway at the stadium.
It is the second major crisis that has hit the club in just over six months.
At the end of May, Colin Horton pulled the plug on Elite League racing, and the speedway closed its doors for ten days until Trump resurrected the Cheetahs in the Conference League.
The main sticking points between Trump and his landlords, apart from the rent hike, were the GRA's refusal to agree more than a one-year deal and a lack of flexibility regarding alternative race nights.
A very frustrated Trump, pictured right, said: "The GRA's attitude of near non-communication and brinkmanship prevented any form of negotiation.
"Apart from an insistence on doubling the rent to £56,000 per season, I had no meaningful response from them at all.
"I have found the GRA's landlord and tenant attitude depressingly unique in my business experience, despite the fact I paid the outstanding rent arrears when I took over in June.
"I requested a three-year deal to enable me to create a solid sponsorship base at the club, but the GRA refused to offer more than a one-year deal."
Trump's request to the GRA to have an alternative race night set aside for the speedway also fell on deaf ears.
He added: "There was a regular conflict with the go-kart operator last season whenever we had a change of date.
"Bearing in mind the increased number of meetings that Premier League racing would bring, I needed certainty that an alternative night would be available.
"My financial proposals for Oxford would have met both the GRA's financial requirements and the long-term future of Oxford Cheetahs.
" But unfortunately the GRA were fixated on doubling the rental figure to the exclusion of anything else."
No-one from the GRA was available for comment.
12:01am Thursday 13th December 2007
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CommentPosted by: Brian Hamilton, Thame on 10:28am Thu 13 Dec 07
Dreadful news, but we MUST be positive as this is nothing new!!!
I feel sure that tomorrow's deadline can be extended if need be.
Dreadful news, but we MUST be positive as this is nothing new!!!
I feel sure that tomorrow's deadline can be extended if need be.
Posted by: john newitt, long crendon .bucks on 10:37am Thu 13 Dec 07
having been to oxford speedway scince 1953. it seem the end of the world for us oxford supporters. and having been involved in helping of running the club. and all the equipment we helped to buy.over the years, whats going to happen to that. wat i suggest that all speedway supporters and club officials .must get together as soon as poss to try and keep the club going on the social side of it . and hope in the near futcher that we can get racing back at the stadium as a.s.p
having been to oxford speedway scince 1953. it seem the end of the world for us oxford supporters. and having been involved in helping of running the club. and all the equipment we helped to buy.over the years, whats going to happen to that. wat i suggest that all speedway supporters and club officials .must get together as soon as poss to try and keep the club going on the social side of it . and hope in the near futcher that we can get racing back at the stadium as a.s.p
Posted by: Brian Hamilton, Thame on 11:31am Thu 13 Dec 07
John I agree and have posted several requests on different web sites this morning and suggested if not before xma, then the first week in January.
John I agree and have posted several requests on different web sites this morning and suggested if not before xma, then the first week in January.
Posted by: Tony Peters, Greyhound Action on 3:05am Sun 16 Dec 07
What a pity the speedway can't stay and the greyhound racing go.
Speedway is an entertaining and popular sport, whereas greyhound racing is a tainted and dying activity. Speedway riders don't get put to death if they fail to perform well enough, many greyhounds, sadly, do, to the tune of 20,000 killed every year because of the British dog racing industry. The GRA are far worse than just being bad landlords!
As an international greyhound protection organisation, our call to the public is to boycott greyhound racing - don't go to it or bet on it - so this death-industry fades away through lack of financial support. Our wish is to see a situation where speedway is no longer associated with greyhound racing, which would be far better for speedway enthusiasts, as well as for the dogs. See our website at
www.greyhoundaction.
org.uk for more information.
What a pity the speedway can't stay and the greyhound racing go.
Speedway is an entertaining and popular sport, whereas greyhound racing is a tainted and dying activity. Speedway riders don't get put to death if they fail to perform well enough, many greyhounds, sadly, do, to the tune of 20,000 killed every year because of the British dog racing industry. The GRA are far worse than just being bad landlords!
As an international greyhound protection organisation, our call to the public is to boycott greyhound racing - don't go to it or bet on it - so this death-industry fades away through lack of financial support. Our wish is to see a situation where speedway is no longer associated with greyhound racing, which would be far better for speedway enthusiasts, as well as for the dogs. See our website at
www.greyhoundaction.
org.uk for more information.
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