OXFORD and Swindon could clash head-on with Friday night speedway fixtures next season if the Robins promoters get their way.

Badly hit by attendances after changing their race night from Saturday to Thursday, Swindon want to go back to Saturday, but have been refused that facility by the Bristol Scott management.

They are now trying for Friday - and that will upset Oxford and Belle Vue who race on the same night.

It's just another headache for Oxford Cheetahs promoter Steve Purchase on the eve of the annual BSPA conference in Lanzarote over the next week.

Swindon claim that now the Greyhound Racing Association have taken over at Oxford, they will make Friday one of the main nights for dog racing. However, operations director Mike Raper said: "It's highly unlikely. We are committed to BAGS meetings on Fridays, and although we could run two meetings in a day, it's highly unlikely. We don't envisage racing on a Friday night."

That will be good news for Purchase, although he will be looking for big changes in the Elite League set up next year.

He's made no secret of the fact that he would like to continue at Oxford, but a lot depends on what happens at the conference.

He said: "I would like to think we will be back because we have done so much work to lay the foundations of the future, but everything has to be right for us to do that.

"I would like to see a more sensible attitude towards making the sport commercially viable. There is simply no way Oxford will be running at the current level next year.

"I hate to think how many clubs have lost money over the season and anybody who thinks we can continue at the same level is living in dreamland.

"We have to get back to basics, if we don't do that we will dig ourselves into an even bigger hole and that would be unacceptable.

"Once the conference decisions have been taken, I can start formulating my plans for next season - if I get the right noises from my fellow promoters."

Purchase is combining a business trip in Portugal along with the conference. CALLING FOR CHANGES: Oxford boss Steve Purchase is at the BSPA Conference next week

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.