Nicholls urges Peterborough Panthers to back the young guns as the club finalise their team-building plans for 2021

Promoters have agreed to introduce a system in both professional leagues which sees one rider from a pool of youngsters introduced to each team.

Panthers already know the rider they want to fill the number seven slot – and seven-time British Champion Nicholls wants to see them given every chance to succeed.

Nicholls said: “We need to look further than this season and think where these kids are going to be in five years time.

“We need to look after ourselves in Britain and give the youngsters the best chance possible to make the breakthrough and step up on the international stage in years to come.”

The Premiership will only have six teams next season following the withdrawal of Swindon due to concerns over racing during building work at the Abbey Stadium.

But Panthers boss Rob Lyon remains optimistic the league will be competitive and his own team will be pushing for the play-offs.

Lyon said: “We have riders who were committed to the 2020 season who are happy to stay with us which is great, but we said last week there will need to be a tweak or two along the way.

“Until such a time as everything is confirmed with paperwork that’s all I can say at this stage.

“All I will add is that Peterborough are pleased about the prospect of the talented crop of British youngsters getting a chance and it’s great for us to showcase these on a channel like Eurosport.

“Now we just can’t wait to get going. The mass rollout of the vaccine is encouraging and personally I’m looking forward to some nice sunny nights of speedway at the Showground in the summer.”

Rohan Tungate and Neils Kristian Iversen are two 2020 Panthers who won’t be returning.