Oxford Cheetahs owner Steve Purchase has admitted that King's Lynn promoter Nigel Wagstaff is likely to stage Elite League speedway at Oxford next year.

His announcement comes on the back of weeks of wrangling about who will be racing where and in what league.

Sportsmail forecast over a week ago that Purchase is likeley to pursue his Premier League dream at King's Lynn, with Northampton businessman Wagstaff safeguarding top-flight racing at Cowley by taking over Cheetahs at Sandy Lane.

Purchase is clearly more positive than he has been of late and although final details have to be ironed out, it seems that Oxford fans can look forward to seeing the world's best riders in action again in 2003.

Oxford will be tracking a completely different team with last season's favourites Leigh Adams and Steve Johnston already finding new clubs, but that's nothing new in speedway as few teams are able to hang on to their 1-7 for more than a year.

In a festive message to the fans, Purchase said: "I have continued to spend a considerable amount of time trying to resolve the situation with the invaluable help of BSPA vice-chairman Pete Toogood.

"I feel that the final solution cannot be far away now and that just about everything is in place. Pete should be commended for his efforts.

"It's a very complex situation and things have taken longer than we hoped and I would ask the supporters to be a little more patient.

"Elite League speedway under 'new' promoter Nigel Wagstaff is a very real possibility and I would urge all Oxford fans to support Nigel in every way they can.

Purchase said of the departure of his top riders: "I have never stood in the way of a rider and it is getting to the time of year where they must do what is best for themselves, after all, we all need to earn a living.

"Leigh is not an Oxford asset but it is still sad to see him go.

"As for Johno, what can I say? He has been very loyal to myself and the Cheetahs - in my view he is the best skipper in the league.

"I guess it's time to close a chapter in Oxford speedway's history, which is a touch sad, but the important thing now is to look forward, not back."