(SPEEDWAY 1)
SHEFFIELD have already named Josh Auty as the first name on their team sheet for 2011.
Auty agreed terms ahead of the club's end-of-season party and will spend a third campaign at Owlerton next year, on loan from parent club Coventry.
Co-promoter David Hoggart said: "The fans have stuck by us this year, which we do appreciate, and we wanted to get this done quickly to put everyone's minds at ease.
"Josh gives top value in entertainment and it's great to go into the winter knowing that he's already put pen to paper. He is the first, and we still have to talk to the other riders, but it's good to make a fast start to our planning."
(SPEEDWAY 2)
BIRMINGHAM will be under new management next season - after owner Tony Mole confirmed that Graham Drury is leaving the club.
Drury, along with wife Denise, has been promoter and general manager since the re-launch of the sport at Perry Barr in 2007, and the Brummies have had several strong seasons under his control.
Mole said: "My company has reluctantly decided against re-engaging Graham Drury as promoter and team manager on cost grounds.
"A team manager will be appointed in due course, but as soon as possible.
"I take this opportunity of thanking Graham and Denise Drury for the sterling work they have put into making Birmingham Brummies the success it has known since the re-opening in March 2007."
(SPEEDWAY 3)
STOKE promoter Dave Tattum has confirmed that this Saturday's Staffordshire Cup clash with Dudley will still go ahead as a stand-alone fixture.
The scheduled first leg at Monmore Green was rained-off on Tuesday and cannot be re-staged due to stadium and rider availability issues, but the Loomer Road meeting will still take place.
Tattum said: "I can confirm that the Stoke leg will go ahead on Saturday night and I hope it will be a good night for both sets of supporters.
"Rumours had started to break that because the Dudley meeting would not be restaged due to the unavailability of the tracks at Wolverhampton and Birmingham, where Dudley stage their home meetings, that we would cancel our meeting.
"But this is not the case and I'd like to stress that the meeting will be going ahead as planned."
(FIXTURES)
SATURDAY OCTOBER 23:
(PROVISIONAL) YOUNG SHIELD FINAL 1st leg: Workington v Rye House 7pm STAFFS CUP: Stoke v Dudley 7.30
BORDERNAPOLIS: Berwick 7pm
PRIDE OF THE EAST: King's Lynn OFF
SUNDAY OCTOBER 24:
ELITE LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Eastbourne v Poole 5pm PROMOTION/RELEGATION RACE OFF 1st leg: Newcastle v Ipswich 6.30 YOUNG SHIELD FINAL: Rye House v Workington or Scunthorpe 4pm NATIONAL LEAGUE KO CUP FINAL 1st leg: Buxton v King's Lynn 3pm NATIONAL TROPHY: Newport v Weymouth 2.30 JAMES GRIEVES TESTIMONIAL: Glasgow 4pm
