Cradley Heathens move into Birmingham's Perry Barr Stadium
Cradley Heathens will be gunning for a third successive National League title next season – but on a new home track.
The club have lost the use of Monmore Green which is only available for Elite League Wolverhampton in 2015, but a deal has been struck to share Birmingham's Perry Barr Stadium.
The Brummies will also make a welcome track return in the same level of racing after closing down in July due to financial problems. Former club owner Tony Mole will submit an application to the National League at their AGM next month.
It means there will be some eagerly awaited Brummies – Heathens derby clashes with the clubs racing on alternate Wednesdays from March to October.
Cradley chairman Nigel Pearson said: "This is wonderful news for both sets of supporters and from a Cradley point of view it's a big relief to get this sorted.
"It will mean we will need every single Heathens fan to come along to Perry Barr and support us to ensure the club survives.
"The one unfortunate side of the situation is that there is no way we could enter the Premier League as planning permission for Perry Barr is strict at one speedway event per week. There would be no room for both Birmingham and ourselves if we were in the Premier with many more fixtures.
"With our club it is always a year-by-year situation until such a time as we are successful in securing our own venue, which is ongoing on a private and confidential basis.
"I would like to thank Tony Mole for his co-operation. It's been a stressful few weeks, we have been desperate to keep the club on track and we have achieved that.
"Now we can get down to looking at team options – as best we can before we know a definite points limit – and our target has to be a hat-trick of National League titles!"
