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Post by schumi on Oct 15, 2008 20:00:12 GMT
This is on the Speedway Star's website: OXFORD BLOW The return of speedway to Oxford in 2009 has been scuppered. Lakeside promoter Jon Cook was at the helm of a consortium bidding to revive racing at Cowley next year but their plans have been vetoed by the stadium owners. Any more information on this? Sorry, genghis.  |
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Post by Genghis on Oct 15, 2008 21:22:29 GMT
This is on the Speedway Star's website: OXFORD BLOW The return of speedway to Oxford in 2009 has been scuppered. Lakeside promoter Jon Cook was at the helm of a consortium bidding to revive racing at Cowley next year but their plans have been vetoed by the stadium owners. Any more information on this? Sorry, genghis. Schumi, the full story will be out tomorrow.  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2008 21:27:22 GMT
 There was substance in the rumour then! What about the other part of the rumour that Tony Mole's bid to resurect the Cheetahs was sidelined when Cook stepped in, if that was true, would he not be tempted to give it a go? Thought things were looking promising for Oxford. With this news, Reading being evicted & Swindon looking to be heading down the same route Speedway in the Thames Valley isn't in a healthy state at the moment.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2008 21:49:48 GMT
What about the other part of the rumour that Tony Mole's bid to resurect the Cheetahs was sidelined when Cook stepped in, if that was true, would he not be tempted to give it a go? The problem is not a shortage of promoters, but the stadium refusing to entertain speedway.  |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2008 22:05:10 GMT
Mole seems to have a fairly good relationship with the GRA though, things worked out ok at BV & Birmingham between the two parties.
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Post by Genghis on Oct 16, 2008 15:36:56 GMT
OK guys, here's the whole press release.
BOMBSHELL FOR OXFORD FANS
It is almost certain that the Oxford Cheetahs will NOT return to speedway action at Oxford Stadium in 2009.
A consortium had been involved in talks with stadium landlords, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA), to reintroduce the sport at Premier League level.
They believed that they had been successful and were all set to announce the return of the Oxford Cheetahs to Sandy Lane after a year’s hiatus – but then received an eleventh hour rejection to their plans.
Consortium members included Lakeside co-promoter Jon Cook, plus Nick Andrews and Ian Kirke, the men who brought a nomadic Cheetahs side back into action in a series of challenge matches at other tracks this season.
Cook is a vastly experienced figure in British Speedway. He was once mechanic to former Cheetah Martin Dugard, before giving racing a go himself. When that proved unsuccessful, he became involved behind the scenes at Eastbourne and soon became one of the most respected promoters in the sport.
At the start of 2007, he moved to Lakeside, where he has helped transform the Hammers from wooden spoonists to play-off finalists within two years.
Cook said: “I can confirm that I was very much involved in the plans to reintroduce speedway to Oxford.
“It’s a huge disappointment that the Cheetahs will not be returning home in 2009, but going forward I would still like to be involved in any future plans for the club.”
Cook was also keen to stress that his involvement at Oxford would have not impacted at all on his role at Lakeside.
He added: “With Lakeside in the Elite League and Oxford in the Premier League, there would have been no conflict of interest.”
Ian Kirke, who has sponsored the nomadic Cheetahs team this year through his company TFSuccess.com, said: “To say we’re all gutted is a massive understatement.
“We have been working tirelessly to establish a sustainable business plan that would have guaranteed racing over the long-term, and funding was available to establish a highly competitive side.
“Both Nick Andrews and myself express our gratitude towards the loyal supporters who enthusiastically supported the nomadic team this year.”
Former clerk of the course Geoff Barber, another key player in the Oxford revival bid, said: “It came like a bolt of the blue.
“Behind the scenes, we’ve built up a good relationship with the GRA this year and we anticipated no problems in returning next season.
“However, there seems to have been a change of heart – which seems to have come not from the GRA themselves, but from their owners.”
The GRA is owned by private equity company Risk Capital Partners (RCP), who bought the GRA for £50.3 million from Wembley Plc in March 2005.
It would seem that RCP were reluctant to agree to a long-term lease given the current economic climate.
Negotiations will be ongoing – so there is a chance that, one day, the sport will return to Cowley.
But unless there is a major development, a return in 2009 is ruled out.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2008 15:40:43 GMT
Truly gutted for you Genghis. I was hoping Oxford would be back next season, I live as close to Cowley as I do to Smallmead & was looking forward to going along & cheer on the opposition.  Looks like I might have to make do with the odd trip to Swindon now but who knows how long their home is safe for too! |
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Post by Genghis on Oct 16, 2008 20:17:49 GMT
Looks like I might have to make do with the odd trip to Swindon Wacks, things are bad, but they're not THAT bad surely.  Seriously though, I hope news is forthcoming on the Budgies new stadium - as they are currently the only team left in the Thames Valley, a traditonal hotbed for speedway. |
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Post by admin on Oct 16, 2008 20:46:52 GMT
There seemed to be good news on the Reading front in this week's Speedway Star.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2008 21:45:43 GMT
There seemed to be good news on the Reading front in this week's Speedway Star. That was reported in our local rag last week too Sube, in the general news section too & not confined to the sports pages. But... we've had so many false dawns over the past god knows how many years about a new stadium in one guise or another, while it does give some hope, I'll still believe it when I see it.  |
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Post by admin on Oct 17, 2008 12:46:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2008 13:03:07 GMT
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Post by admin on Oct 17, 2008 13:05:53 GMT
I certainly hope that speedway has a future in both Oxford and Reading. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 17, 2008 13:53:29 GMT
sorry Sube, thinking about a few of your previous posts I realise that.
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Post by admin on Oct 17, 2008 13:59:51 GMT
sorry Sube, thinking about a few of your previous posts I realise that. The thing is, the "current economic climate" which Tim Sugar seems to fear will forestall work on the new stadium will surely mean that the land where Smallmead now stands will also stand undeveloped for the time being. Why demolish it now? Why not just wait a couple of years, with continuing activity on the site, and see which way the wind is blowing? |
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There was substance in the rumour then!
