Chairman's vow to Heathens fans

Heathens chairman Nigel Pearson can't wait for the new season – but wants it to be the only one for the resurrected speedway club.

Pearson is delighted to be at the helm of the Dudley Heathens, but insists he's just carrying the torch until Cradley return with a stadium of their own.

"I would love it if it's one season only," he said. "Because then it would mean that Cradley was back in 2011. That would be brilliant.

"As it stands at the moment it's a case of – I know it's a cliché, but literally you have to take it one season at a time with a project like this," he said in an Express & Star video interview.

Although the new team will share its home matches between the Wolverhampton and Birmingham tracks, Pearson is aware that the omission of the Cradley name has caused debate.

"We want to preserve the name Cradley for the ultimate, when they find a new stadium of their own," said the Sky Sports speedway presenter.

"And when that happens all Heathens fans have my word, and that of everybody in the management side, that we will hand the Heathens name back to be reunited with Cradley.

"For the time being this, in my opinion, is the best thing we can possibly do – to have league racing for the Heathens with the name of Dudley."

That racing will take place, subject to approval by the British Speedway Promoters Association, in the sport's third tier, the National League. It's a level which combines competitive racing with a desire to bring on younger riders, and that's the balance at which the new club will aim.

"We're looking to track a competitive team; we also want to give youngsters a chance to come through and ride for this famous name," he said. "Obviously we would like to look towards riders with local connections, if at all possible.

"We'd like, in an ideal world, to have maybe a couple of experienced figureheads as part of the team and then five youngsters.

"I'd like to think we could pull in 500-600 supporters on a regular basis. At the same time I think we'll be good business away from home."

And after the first season? "We'll take a look at it again in October; we'll have a clearer idea then as to whether there's any potential for a new side for Cradley.

"But at the moment the first task is to get everything in shape for next season, get the fixtures sorted, get a team put on the track, get admission prices finalised, get the season ticket application forms out.

"Apart from that, there's nothing really to do before Christmas!"