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BIRMINGHAM boss Graham Drury says he is excited by the prospect of managing a top-flight team next season.The Brummies have joined the Elite League, having last raced at the top level in 1983, replacing Ipswich who will instead enter the Premier League in 2011.Drury said: "The prospect of seeing Grand Prix riders like Chris Holder, Freddie Lindgren, Kenneth Bjerre and Chris Harris at Perry Barr next season is an exciting one."People have said to me for a long time that Perry Barr is an Elite League venue but Tony Mole (club owner) has had his reasons, extremely valid reasons, for staying in the Premier League."I'm sure this news will appeal to the wider audience and more people from throughout the area will want to come and see Speedway in the top league."

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LEICESTER promoter David Hemsley is celebrating the club's acceptance into the 2011 Premier League.The Lions have been out of the sport since 1983 but work is progressing rapidly at their new stadium and they can now fully consider their team-building options.Hemsley said: "The announcement was eagerly awaited and whilst we did not take the outcome for granted, we are really pleased with the decision to allow us to join the league of our choice."With our league status now confirmed we are in a stronger position to negotiate with riders to race for the Lions next season. Sergey Darkin, the Russian international, has already agreed to ride for Leicester and we can now start to build a competitive team that will entertain and hopefully make an impression in our first season back in the sport."