(SPEEDWAY 1)

STOKE have withdrawn from the Premier League and intend to run at National League level in 2011.Potters promoter Dave Tattum has taken the decision due to the financial climate and having suffered substantial losses over the last three seasons, although he does hope to return to the higher level in the future.Tattum said: "This has been one of the most difficult decisions we have ever taken and it certainly wasn't taken lightly. We have thought long and hard about this since our last meeting in October and we want to do what is right for the club. We believe this is the right way forward."I hope our supporters will understand why we have had to make this decision. It is to build for the future and return the club to the Premier League in a position of financial strength and with a strong crop of British riders."

(SPEEDWAY 2)

SHEFFIELD promoter Neil Machin will be urging his fellow club bosses to be sensible in the deals they offer riders for the 2011 season.The BSPA AGM continues over the weekend, and Machin has warned there has to be realism from all sides in negotiations when promoters return home to build their teams.He said: "The stark fact is that some riders are going to have to accept less than they have been earning. If promoters can't live with deals, then they have to say so."You only have to look at what's happening in Poland right now. Riders have been getting good deals and come to us and ask for similar ones - but just about every rider I speak to who races over there is currently owed money. Some are owed thousands and I don't want that to start happening over here."