A consortium of Peterborough Panthers fans believe they can buy the club and save speedway in the city

And they believe they can rescue the club and either continue racing at the East of England Arena or find a new site elsewhere in the city.

The group, all long time Panthers followers, have been negotiating with Chapman for several weeks and have already been told they can speak to the East of England Showground agents AEPG as the club’s potential new owners.

They have been in touch with AEPG director Ashley Butterfield and claim they were promised a meeting with him which has now been cancelled.

AEPG VIEW

The group includes several of the club’s current sponsors and others who have had close links with past promotions.

One of the group confirmed: “We all have Panthers in our blood and have been supporters for many years and have seen thousands of meetings between us.

“We will do everything we can to keep speedway in Peterborough and our first choice would obviously to stay at the Showground next season and for the foreseeable future.

“But before we can do anything, we have to see if we can agree a deal with Mr. Chapman to buy the rights to the Peterborough operating licence and until that happens it is difficult to move forward.”

Along with the national Sports England body, the Speedway Control Bureau, the sport’s overall governing body, have objected to the plans to develop the Showground for housing and other leisure facilities because there is no provision for speedway.

In their submission, the SCB claim: “The business model of the Peterborough Panthers in the 53 years of trading has never been an issue and in this current season of events, of which there has been 15, the attendances have been in the region between 1,500 and 2,000 spectators.

“The Peterborough club have also held major speedway events over the years which has included British Championship events and also the FIM World Cup Final, which have been fantastic for the businesses of the surrounding areas including hotels, public houses and food outlets, as these events have attracted in the region of 5,000 spectators.”