British Speedway AGM details and key decisions.

British Speedway will retain a three-tier structure next season following a hugely successful annual general meeting in Swindon. The Sky Sports Elite League will feature eight clubs with 28-meetings per team and the Premier League could be set for 18 clubs.

Once again the top flight title will be decided by play-offs, but this time the top four will meet on a semi-final basis, home and away, to establish the two grand finalists.

And in a bid to provide continuity for weekend Elite League tracks, a new British League Cup has been introduced which will feature all Elite and Premier League clubs. The competition, which includes five qualifying groups, will be run on a Premier League basis with top flight clubs working to a 36-point limit.

Oxford's application to move into the Premier League has been placed on hold as King's Lynn boss Nigel Wagstaff has yet to agree a new lease with his Norfolk Arena landlord. And the same applies to Somerset who withdrew from the league during the AGM as they have been unable to finalise a long-term lease with their landlord. Both King's Lynn and Somerset have been handed 21-days in which to resolve their respective problems.

BSPA Chairman Chris Van Straaten said: "We have always championed the three-tier structure and we're delighted for this to remain in place. The newly introduced British League Cup fixtures will, more than likely, take place on Grand Prix weekends and it provides suporters with a greater variety of meetings."

"It is also a bridge-building exercise between the two leagues and it gives us all something else to look forward to. We are very sympathetic to the cases of King's Lynn and Somerset and that's why we have agreed to give them both a 21-day spell of breathing space."

"Everyone also realises that pay restraints need to be put in place and it was agreed that this would apply at all levels of the sport. This was an AGM full of co-operation between the two senior leagues and everyone has emerged in a positive frame of mind."

THE KEY DECISIONS FOR 2003 SEASON:

POINTS LIMIT:
Remains at 45-points in both leagues.

GRAND PRIX RIDERS:
No restrictions.

ELITE LEAGUE 2003
Belle Vue, Coventry, Eastbourne, Ipswich, King's Lynn*, Peterborough, Poole, Wolverhampton.

PREMIER LEAGUE 2003:
Arena Essex, Berwick, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Hull, Isle of Wight, Newcastle, Newport, Oxford*, Reading, Rye House, Sheffield, Somerset*, Stoke, Swindon, Trelawny, Workington.

CONFERENCE LEAGUE 2003:
To be finalised in January.

BRITISH LEAGUE CUP 2003:
GROUP 1: Berwick, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Workington.
GROUP 2: Belle Vue, Coventry, Hull, Sheffield, Stoke.
GROUP 3: Exeter, Newport, Poole, Somerset*, Trelawny, Wolverhampton.
GROUP 4: Eastbourne, Isle of Wight, Oxford, Reading, Swindon.
GROUP 5: Arena Essex, Ipswich, King's Lynn, Peterborough, Rye House.
Group winners and the three most successful runners-up to qualify for quarter-finals on a knockout basis.

PREMIER LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP 2003:
PRELIMINARY ROUND: Somerset* v Newport
QUALIFYING ROUND: Swindon v Isle of Wight, Rye House v Arena Essex, Reading v Trelawny, Newport/Somerset v Exeter, Workington v Edinburgh, Stoke v Newcastle, Sheffield v Hull, Berwick v Glasgow.

*DENOTES SUBJECT to final confirmation.

BSPA MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE:
Chris Van Straaten (Chairman), Peter Toogood (Vice-Chairman), Colin Pratt, Jon Cook, Neil Machin.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL QUALIFYING ROUND:
Poole, August 17.

WORLD UNDER-21 QUALIFYING ROUND:
Poole, May 25.

ELITE LEAGUE RIDERS' CHAMPIONSHIP:
Coventry, Saturday October 11.

CHAMPIONSHIP OF GREAT BRITAIN:
Eastbourne, Saturday July 5.

PREMIER LEAGUE PAIRS, FOURS AND PLRC:
TBC.

TEST SERIES:
IT is hoped that a series of meetings between Team Great Britain and Australia will take place.

GREEN HELMET COLOUR:
The white helmet colour has now been phased out of the sport to assist with TV coverage and interactive services the green helmet will now apply in all meetings.

SPEEDWAY GREAT BRITAIN EXHIBITION 2003:
National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh, Warks, Sunday March 9.