SPEEDWAY: End of the road for Cheetahs (From The Oxford Times)

SPEEDWAY: End of the road for Cheetahs

10:14am Thursday 24th January 2008 in Sport

No league speedway will take place at Oxford Stadium this year, writes Robert Peasley.

Stadium owners, the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA), broke their silence and confirmed the news on Wednesday, but they did not rule out some open meetings being staged at Cowley.

GRA managing director Clive Feltham called Oxford City councillor Bob Timbs to inform him of the decision.

Save Our Speedway spokesman, Chris Brown, said: "I've spoken to councillor Timbs, and while the GRA do not intend issuing a statement, they are quite happy for the contents of the phone conversation to be made public.

"Clive Feltham highlighted a couple of reasons behind their decision.

"Firstly, not enough people were coming into the stadium on speedway nights - and the lack of revenue was leading to the GRA losing money.

"Feltham didn't feel that Conference League speedway would raise enough funds this year - and that a higher level is required.

"He also alleged that the GRA had been let down by recent promoters at Oxford, with bills being left unpaid.

"But, while declaring that the stadium would not be made available for league racing in 2008 and that this decision will not be reversed, he did not discount running major meetings.

"He is willing to talk about any proposals regarding this."

Feltham dismissed the idea that stock car racing would replace speedway at the stadium - confirming there were no such plans.

It means the end of Oxford Cheetahs - for the time being at least.

They entered the third division in 1949 and have continued ever since, despite numerous threats to their existence.

This year would have marked the 60th successive season of league speedway at Sandy Lane.

Brown added: "The loss of league speedway for 2008 is devastating news, but we will fight on to ensure a long-term future for the club.

"Whether this is at Oxford Stadium or at another venue remains to be seen."

Oxford East MP Andrew Smith has requested an urgent meeting with the GRA to discuss any options which would help maintain speedway.