Aces high after new owners agree deal for team
CLUB CAN MOVE BACK INTO £7M STADIUM FOLLOWING TAKEOVER
BELLE VUE Aces say they are aiming to get back on track after it was announced they will move back into their stadium under new ownership.
They have also announced their first two signings ahead of the new campaign.
The club’s future was plunged into huge doubt last season when they were effectively shut down under their former promoters Chris Morton and David Gordon.
They were also evicted from the National Speedway Stadium in Gorton over unpaid rent.
However, both Manchester council and speedway’s governing body said they were committed to maintaining a club in the city and that they would race next season.
And yesterday they announced they have concluded a deal with businessmen Tony Rice and Robin Southwell to take over as the club’s new promoters.
Mr Rice is the former CEO of telecoms firm Cable and Wireless and was also managing director at British Aerospace.
Mr Southwell, who has an OBE, has also worked largely in the aerospace industry, including holding senior positions at BAE Systems and was a UK business ambassador under former Prime Minister David Cameron.
They have also been previously involved with the club, being revealed as two of a group of ‘international business bighitters’ who had invested in the new stadium project back in 2013.
The move has been rubberstamped by the British Speedway Promoters Association (BSPA) after lengthy negotiations with council bosses.
In a statement the council said the pair had ‘strong business links to Manchester and have the desire to develop a long-term and sustainable future for the club in Manchester and to promote the National Speedway Stadium as a world class venue for speedway activity in the country.’
Mr Rice and Mr Southwell said: “Whilst it has taken a few weeks to finalise negotiations, we are delighted to become the new owners of the Belle Vue Aces.
“We have been impressed with Manchester city council’s passion and commitment to Belle Vue and believe that we will continue to build a close working relationship with them as we develop the business during the season.”
They will begin a new tenancy of the £7m stadium on Kirkmanshulme Lane which was beset by problems with the track shortly after its grand opening last march.
They have appointed Adrian Smith, who has worked with Mr Rice in some of his other businesses, as chief executive.
Mark Lemon, who was the club’s team manager in 2015 and 2016, has been appointed as director of speedway reporting to the CEO.
As well as being team manager this term, he will also have full responsibility for all the Premiership, national and development team activities. His first two signings of the season are Steve Worrall and Craig Cook who have both joined up for this season’s newly-named British Speedway Premiership.
They will be looking to build on last season’s success in which they were narrowly pipped to the post as champions by Wolverhampton.
Mr Smith said: “I am delighted to be joining Belle Vue Speedway 2017 and I am very excited that Mark Lemon is our director of speedway. Both of us are determined to build a sustainable club that our fans and Manchester can be truly proud of.”
Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester council, said: “Belle Vue Aces is one of the Manchester’s most historic sporting clubs and to be able to confirm their continued tenure at the National Speedway Stadium will be welcome news to their fans.”
Keith Chapman, Chairman of the BSPA, said: “The National Speedway Stadium is a shining beacon of British speedway and this news marks the start of a bright future for the club.”