Oxford Cheetahs promoter Allen Trump has started the search for a new site to stage speedway racing, writes ROBERT PEASLEY.

For the last 59 years, speedway has run alongside greyhound racing at Oxford Stadium.

But with the Greyhound Racing Association (GRA) issuing Trump with a demand for a 100 per cent increase for the stadium rent, he has been forced to look elsewhere.

Trump has already been down a similar path with his hometown club, the Exeter Falcons.

Exeter were evicted from their famous County Ground home at the end of the 2005 season, shortly before the stadium was demolished.

Trump is close to gaining planning permission for a new home for the Falcons at the Haldon Hill racecourse.

And it seems the earliest Cheetahs fans could hope for speedway to return to Oxford would be 2010 or 2011, bringing to an end the club's proud run of league speedway every year since 1949.

Trump said: "I need five acres of land, and a location where we could obtain planning permission. Anywhere within around a 10-mile radius of Oxford would be OK.

"I would be interested in hearing from anyone with suggestions of a suitable site. I think this is the best way forward, to own our own stadium and be our own bosses.

"Oxford Speedway has struggled for most of the last 20 seasons, and I'm convinced that is largely due to the club having to live out a year-by-year existence in a rented stadium."

Meanwhile, the deadline set by the British Speedway Promoters Association (BSPA) for Oxford to confirm their membership of the 2008 Premier League expires today at 5pm.

However, with negotiations between Trump and the GRA having broken down, there seems no chance for Cheetahs - barring a last-minute miracle.