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EXCLUSIVE: Council leader praises Bees owner Horton and adds fans played a crucial part in securing new lease Written by Shaun Reynolds Published 4:06 pm, Jul 25, 2016 THE LEADER of Rugby Borough Council has praised the work of Coventry Bees promoter Mick Horton and fans of the club after it was announced earlier today a new one-year lease to keep speedway at Brandon has been offered. Coun Michael Stokes admitted although the agreed deal is a compromise, the news is positive and theres every possibility an additional two years can be added on to the lease should specific criteria be met. The new deal will see both Coventry Bees speedway team and Coventry Stock Cars continue racing next year the lease would start on January 1 2017 and end 12 months later. The Observer is awaiting on official confirmation that the club has accepted the offer proposed, though it is believed to have been agreed. Speaking to The Observer, Coun Stokes said: Im very pleased with the outcome it is a compromise but its positive and the best we could get. We have to look at this as a reprieve and keep the pressure on to secure a new site where speedway and stock car racing can take place. It is definite that racing can take place next year, the owners would consider a further two years but that is subject to conditions though Im confident we can work to those. Mick Horton as the lease holder has a big job now, he has been key to securing this deal and not just talked about the Bees throughout the negotiation process but spoke on behalf of other motorsports at the venue too the outcome is a credit to him. The deal comes following months of meetings and negotiations something Coun Stokes described as an awful lot of work. However the Council leader revealed that having a neutral party involved in negotiations helped tremendously and the passion of speedway and stock car fans convinced Coun Stokes to work hard for the best possible outcome. He added: It was an awful lot of work and I facilitated plenty of meetings the fact a neutral party was involved helped massively. I put across views of the public I was extremely swayed by the passion of the speedway and stock car fans. I saw a petition with 6,000 signatures on, I met hundreds of fans at the public meeting held last month it was then I realised this situation isnt about pulling a fast one. The land owners do not know about the history of the stadium and I was able to translate the passion of the fans across to the owners. Speedway has had a huge impact on Coventry and fans genuinely wanted to retain the site. Coventry Stadium is ingrained on the local community, Ive lived in and around the city all my life people talk about the speedway and often tell me how tragic it would be should the stadium disappear. There was a severe risk of the stadium losing motorsport at one time, well continue to work hard for the best possible future.

A one year lease with possibility of another two subject to conditions. http://www.coventrybees.co/news.php?extend.3671 I would imagine the conditions are that we are actively searching for a new stadium in that time.

Thanks 👍🏻 The time seemed to go very slow waiting for the announcement to come. It still doesn't secure us long term but at least we have some hope. Credit to all those who made this possible. Rugby Council leader Michael Stokes says it was an awful lot of work to finalise the deal and praised the efforts of Mick Horton throughout. He added the passion of Coventry Bees fans was a massive influence on his commitment to securing a deal. More online soon. 🐝

Rugby Council leader Michael Stokes says it was an awful lot of work to finalise the deal and praised the efforts of Mick Horton throughout. He added the passion of Coventry Bees fans was a massive influence on his commitment to securing a deal. More online soon. @covobservernews

Brilliant news that we have another year at Brandon with chance of another 2 subject to conditions.

Very disappointing esp as Tai hasn't even been on the track before. Lambert booked a holiday which is no excuse as he knew when the World Cup was. Lack of commitment. Cook, King & Worrall turned up. I could never see Harris missing it if he had been selected

Kaspazak replaces Magic in the World Cup final

Kaspazak has been in great form for Coventry and in the SEC. Rode Belle Vue well on our visit there so a good call.

He has for a lot of our meetings and was scoring double figures. It's just been the last few meetings he's been hit and miss. He got injured a couple of weeks ago and then crashes heavily a few days later in the grasstrack event which might be part of it. Seems low on power as well.

Great start for me and only 1pt off the new record. Might all go downhill in the next one Good job Derwent & Panthers89 👍🏻

Emil was class last night. He out rode them all and was a joy to watch. I'm looking forward to seeing him again on Friday

I enjoyed that meeting. Good that it was close until the end. Denmark actually did better than I thought they would cos of paper they looked quite weak. For me the highlight was watching Emil who made it look easy. even after being out for a while with injury, he just looks so natural on a bike. Made easy work of the competition.

Thanks. Keeping everything crossed 🙏🏼

Don't remind me 🙈 Still stuck watching one of them now

Harris looked like his head was down from the start and wasn't his usual self. We were talking in the stands saying we thought it looked like he wasn't in after Rosco informed rider that morning. Bates didn't look any different to watch. Worrall is on standby so shouldn't really affect him. It is good to see a fast draft rider involved. Yes it's on his home track but he's riding well away as well. Credit to Mark Lemon and Newcastle as he's really progressed this year. It was a great move for him leaving Swindon and joining The Aces

Would have picked Bates myself as he's proven himself in the U21s and in becoming British U21 champion in the same meetings as Ellis. However it's really just to make up the numbers as neither would do a lot if we have to use them. Worrall was great at Brandon last night. Enjoyed watching him more than Cook

Talks were still on going between the council & owners so it was pushed back. Should know in the next week or so. 🙏🏼 Lots of different rumours flying around but nothing confirmed as yet

No because Rosco hasn't included the likes of Kennett, Barker or Bridger 🙈

Didn't King win races off the other gates at Belle Vue? He can't have got the title by being on gate 4 all night Cook is my worry as if he doesn't gate then he's not good at all. Not a good racer and struggles against the big boys. That said Harris isn't good at Belle Vue. Nicholls really out of form. Let's hope King, Tai & Lambert can dial in quick and get us on the podium.

I'm not sure Cook would have done as well as King did at Cardiff. Also Danny was the best at the British Final throughout the meeting & in the final. Once King hit the dirt Cook had no answer

Don't agree that Nicholls was unfairly excluded which is why I haven't put it. I commented that the ref was inconsistent. He brought back the same race 3 times due to riders jumping but yet let Zagar do it in heat 1, King in heat 6 & R Worrall in heat 8 King & R Worrall both jumped by a mile so evened that one out.

No home track advantage yet but still top of the league based on the fact your also good away this year. If the team can get to grips with the home track and find some advantage, this could be their year

Scored and produced good racing. Barker is doing neither

Not sure. Sky always seem to avoid Leicester. I would have preferred either Coventry's home or away ones against the Lions being moved for tv

The only good race Barker had was when he was on a good 5-1 with Woryna but then his bike stopped which meant he blocked Woryna directly behind him which let Fricke through. That was the same bike Kaspazak had to quickly grab in heat 13 when his bike blew on his way out under the 2 minutes. We couldn't buy luck tonight We have really missed Garrity