BRITISH SPEEDWAY STATEMENT - EASTBOURNE

The Board of the British Speedway Promoters Ltd have today (Thursday) issued the following statement confirming the withdrawal of Eastbourne Speedway from the SGB Championship and the National Development league.

"IT is with extreme disappointment that British Speedway Promoters Ltd can confirm the withdrawal of Eastbourne Eagles from the remainder of the 2021 British Speedway season.

Despite exhaustive efforts and every opportunity given to the club to meet their financial obligations by the Directors of British Speedway Promoters Ltd, we have now been informed by the club that this will not be possible and they have asked to be withdrawn with immediate effect.

As a consequence a request for annulment will now be made to the SCB (Speedway Control Bureau).

We realise the impact this will have on the sport in general, and the Championship in particular, and we sincerely hope the famous Eagles can return under new management at the famous Arlington Stadium for the 2022 season.

We offer our thoughts to all the riders, staff, sponsors and supporters who are impacted by this extremely disappointing news.

We will not be making any further comment on this matter at this stage."

Poole promoter Dan Ford shared the Board's disappointment adding "this is another massive blow for British speedway and here at Poole we have lost another local rival, which is hugely disappointing. We have over the years enjoyed considerable rivalry with our friends from Sussex and we can only hope that their withdrawal for 2021 is short-term only and we can renew those rivalries in seasons to come."

Eastbourne were due to visit Wimborne Road in the league next month (September 15th)  and they were also the Pirates' quarter final opponents in the Knockout Cup. The effect of their annulment will see Poole lose the one league point they had gained when they went down 45-44 at Arlington back in May.