Coventry Bees look set to complete a dramatic return to Elite League speedway.
It was widely reported yesterday that the bitter winter-long dispute involving Coventry, Peterborough and the British Speedway Promoters’ Association had ended on the eve of tapes-up for the new season, allowing both clubs to return to racing and the Bees to defend their title.
None of the three parties were able to confirm via an official statement that a resolution had been reached but Bees co-promoter Allen Trump re-assured fans that they will see racing at Brandon this year.
He said: “Until the BSPA issue their press release we can’t issue ours because they are the governing body, and neither can Peterborough. But there are a lot of people co-operating and it will happen.
“It’s a huge relief. I’ve met over 700 fans at Coventry and Peterborough over the last three weeks and it’s really about them and the riders.
"I’m just glad for the fans that they’ve still got their speedway, and the Bees’ long and proud tradition will continue.
“What we were fighting for was a level playing field for everybody, which I hope now with goodwill on both sides we’ve achieved.
"We’ve got the independent (appeals) panel being set up, and I’m sure that will prove to be a good escape valve for the tensions that build up within the sport.”
It has already emerged that Peterborough have agreed a deal with three-times World Champion Nicki Pedersen, who will return to the Elite League for the first time since 2007 to lead the Panthers.
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 4:33 pm