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SHEFFIELD have revealed the men behind the club’s new consortium who have joined existing co-promoter David Hoggart in charge of the Tigers.Barnsley-based Damien Bates will be making an application to the BSPA to also become a co-promoter, whilst former Newport promoter Peter Mole and accountant and photographer Simon Parker are also part of the group.Bates said: “It’s good for me to be local, the other guys aren’t on the doorstep and I want to get out there and spread the word about Sheffield, we just want to promote it as hard as we can.“I first went when my Dad took me when the likes of Peter Carr were blasting around Owlerton, so it’s an amazing turn of events to be in this position and I’m delighted.”

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FORMER Scunthorpe mascot Reece Downes has become the first signing ahead of the club’s return to the National League this season.15-year-old Downes, who was just pipped to the British Youth title by Nathan Greaves in September, will start the season at reserve for the Stags in a side which is set to be based strongly around prospects for the future.Downes said: “I’ve had approaches from several clubs to ride this year and I really appreciate them all but when I got a call from Richard Hollingsworth my mind was made up. I’ve been at Scunthorpe for seven years now and, although my home city is Sheffield, my speedway home has always been Scunthorpe.“If it wasn’t for people like Richard and Anne Hollingsworth, Rob Godfrey and, of course, Kenny Smith I wouldn’t be where I am now with my riding.”

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REPRESENTATIVES from the Midland Development and Northern Junior Leagues met with the BSPA and SCB on Wednesday to rubber-stamp arrangements for their 2014 campaigns.Laurence Rogers (MDL) and Jamie Swales (NJL) were in attendance and both leagues are now hoping to finalise their competing teams and fixtures as soon as possible.Both leagues operate on the basis of second-half events which take place after official senior fixtures.Rogers said: “It was a very constructive and beneficial meeting. We can now press on with sorting out our respective leagues and continue the good work these leagues have produced over the past few seasons.”