THE CHAIRMAN of the British Speedway Promoters Association is hopeful a new venue can be found following the announcement Coventry Bees will not be competing in this year’s SGB Premiership.
Keith Chapman said yesterday was a sad day for speedway, though a lot of stuff has happened in the last ten days – making it clear a possible return to Brandon was off the cards.
His thoughts were voiced less than 24 hours after the BSPA confirmed the devastating news, ending 88 years of speedway history in the city.
Speaking to BBC Coventry & Warwickshire’s breakfast show, Mr Chapman said: “By confirming this news, Coventry stand a chance of coming back.
“Coventry Stadium is one of the best venues in the country, between now and next season a lot of things can happen.
“I think there could be a new venue found.”
Fans of the Bees have been plagued with the possibility their team may not return to Brandon since it was made clear the club’s lease was set to end at the conclusion of the 2016 season.
A public meeting was held at Warwick University in June last year where fans voiced their concern about the long-term future of the club.
In July is was confirmed a one-year lease had been signed, with the option of a two-year extension.
But in December many of the stadium’s fittings were removed, reducing the site to a sorry state – with seats from the grandstand removed, shale taken from the track and floodlights taken.
In January it was then announced a deal had been struck for Mr Sandhu to return the stadium to its original state, though it later emerged this deal was never struck – leaving the Bees homeless once more.
Fans were promised for the third time their club was safe when the BSPA confirmed on January 29 the club would race at Leicester this season.
But Mr Chapman said a lot of stuff has happened in the last ten days, making it clear a return to Brandon this season was not going to happen.
He said: “Initially there was a good chance they could get back to Brandon, but it has become evident that is not going to happen and the Bees would’ve only been able to run a maximum of eight meetings at Leicester – meaning there was no real chance of them finishing the season.
“We’ve done our best and allowed extra time to get the Bees back racing after a lot of public demand, but we couldn’t allow them to start their season knowing it may not end.”
Riders have now been left jobless, including current British Champion Danny King – who is without a Premiership team.
Danish international Kenneth Bjerre is among other riders to be without a British team to race for, and promising British talent James Sarjeant has no Premiership of Championship club to race for.
Chapman said: “We understand the situation is not fair on the riders who were signed with the Bees, but it’s better to make this announcement now than half way through the season where people with season tickets, and sponsors, would suffer.
“No one can be blamed for the situation, it’s a mixture of things.
“If the stadium hadn’t been sold we wouldn’t be here, if Mr Sandhu had done everything promised we wouldn’t be here – it’s ended up in a mess.”
