Aaron Lanney's first season at the helm of Oxford speedway certainly was a baptism of fire.

He couldn't have had a worse start, even though he acquired the services of six-times world champion Tony Rickardsson.

But while the Swede could wipe the floor with the top stars in the Grand Prix series, he was often found wanting when the chips were down for Cheetahs.

The move didn't work on the track for Cheetahs - who finished second bottom in the Sky Sports Elite League - and it didn't pull in the crowds that Lanney envisaged would boost the finances.

Wednesday night racing also didn't work for speedway.

It's the third night which has been tried in the last few years following racenights on Thursday and Friday.

No promoter over the last few years had made a profit at Cowley, even on the preferred Friday night.

It takes a winning team to pull in the fans, just ask Oxford United.

Lanney admits: "I have learned a great deal in my first season. Obviously we have not been successful on the track as I would have liked.

"However, I had to start from scratch and put together a brand new team which didn't prove to be easy.

"The gamble of using Rickardsson didn't work either - you learn by your mistakes.

"The arrival of Todd Wiltshire was the best thing that happened to me and as a result the team bonded and performances improved all round.

"It's my belief that if the season was starting now and the lads performing as I know they can, we would have finished much higher in the league."

Touching on the financial implications of his first year, Lanney added: "It's been a hard year on the pocket.

"I not only had the expense of putting a team together, but also acquiring the rights to stage speedway here from the previous owner.

"Attendances dipped, but I fully accepted that in this day and age. Success on the track is the only way for improvement in crowds.

"Hopefully we can address that situation next year, but I will not make false promises and guarantee success. Only time will tell if that ambition is realised.