The annual conference of the British Speedway Promoters' Association was held at the weekend.

As expected, it agreed to maintain the 45 points limit for team strengths in both the Elite and Premier Leagues.

With the sport heading in a positive direction, there was little change in other issues discussed although Dave Jessup was replaced as England team manager by the joint partnership of Colin Pratt and Eric Boocock.

It was agreed that a significant amount of the money generated from the five-year Sky TV deal will be channelled back into the sport through youth development, training, promoting and marketing and the England national squad.

Sky's contract will see Premier League matches televised for the First time.

Membership of both Elite and Premier leagues remains as last year although an application has been received to enter St Austell into the Premier League.

In the First Round of the Premier League Knockout Cup, Arena Essex have been drawn to face Reading with the Hammers staging the first leg.

The remainder of the draw is Isle of Wight v Stoke, Sheffield v Berwick, Swindon v Glasgow, Exeter v Newport, Edinburgh v Newcastle. Workington and Hull received byes.

Speaking about the outcome of the conference, Arena Essex promoting consortium member Alan Sargent commented: "We are happy with the 45 point limit and can now turn our attentions towards definite team-building plans.

"We are hoping that Leigh Lanham will be in our team and he is making good progress after his broken thigh and there may be a chance that we can get his average reduced.

"He was injured in our opening meeting but it was only a challenge match and the BSPA do allow a reduction in average when a rider has been out injured for a year. We are keeping our fingers crossed that they will agree to lower his figure.

"We have had a number of permutations in mind as regards the team and now we know officially that the points limit has been set at 45, we can go ahead and begin to formulate our plans."

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