WORKINGTON have now confirmed they will be able to take their place in the SGB Championship this season.The Comets will go into their 19th successive season of league racing at Derwent Park required a little extra time after this week’s AGM to ensure their future.Co-promoter Laura Morgan said: “It has been a difficult few weeks for us, as we have had to look at how we do things as well as see how the sport was set to run in 2017. “This has also necessitated discussions with our stadium landlords, Workington Town Rugby League Club, who have been very helpful and we have established a new way of working together for the benefit of both parties, with only a couple of minor points yet to be sorted.“Additionally, the sport’s AGM seems to have had a very positive outcome and certainly gives us some hope for the season ahead. “Consequently, having taken everything into account, we are delighted to confirm that we will take our place in the newly titled SGB Championship come March of next year and we would like to thank everyone that has helped us get to this point.”

(SPEEDWAY 2)

COVENTRY have named Jim Lynch as their new manager for the 2017 SGB Premiership campaign.Lynch, with previous title successes at Peterborough to his name, returns to the sport for the first time since 2012 when he was in charge of Belle Vue, and succeeds Gary Havelock at Brandon.Lynch said: “I’ve always got on well with the people at Coventry, and in fairness when Mick (Horton) approached me it was probably the only place I would have done it.“I didn’t really have to think much about it, it was just a case of setting out the way we both wanted things to be done, and there haven’t been any issues in any of our discussions.“I don’t see being out for a few years as a problem, I haven’t been out of it that long and speedway really doesn’t change much, be it with riders or promoters.“I’m really looking forward to it, more-so because of it being Coventry. I’m very enthusiastic to get started, I know the Coventry fans want success and that’s what we’ll be looking to deliver.”

(SPEEDWAY 3)

WOLVERHAMPTON co-promoter Chris Van Straaten believes “exciting times” are on the horizon following major changes to the sport.Wolves will go down as the last winners of the Elite League, and Van Straaten feels the re-branding which will now see them compete in the SGB Premiership was long overdue.He said: “I’ve tried for the last few AGMs to drop the title ‘Elite’, because it has opened us up to a certain amount of ridicule. For understandable reasons, there have been top riders missing from the UK so it was time to drop the ‘Elite League’ tag. “I’m glad we’re retaining the three-league system, because I was never in favour of the concept of one big league. “Hopefully the ladder, which is important for the development of British youngsters, is easier to climb with the changes that have been made. “There are a lot of positive things to come out of the AGM, and it’s also nice for Wolves fans to now go to Rye House and Somerset in an official capacity.”