Gary Patchett owner of Birmingham Speedway after shock quit move by Tony Mole

Oct 24 2009 by Barry Kinghorn, Birmingham Mail

GARY Patchett is the new owner of Birmingham Speedway – after the shock decision of Tony Mole to retire.

Patchett, a Halesowen businessman, will control the club for the 2010 campaign under a lease agreement with the option to buy Mole out – subject to a successful planning application for racing to continue at Perry Barr.

He’s agreed a deal with Peterborough’s Mick Bratley to join him as promoter and talks have taken place with Brummies chief Graham Drury to continue as team manager and co-promoter.

The Mail can also reveal how Patchett, who holds a half-share in Elite League Swindon, would also be happy to consider taking Birmingham into the top flight – if approached by the sport’s governing body.

Said Patchett: “Tony approached me a short time ago to say he would be happy to stand aside. He offered me the club but I said I wasn’t prepared to buy it without permanent planning.

“He then came back to me with a proposal to lease the club with the option to purchase subject to him winning planning permission later next year.

“Tony has been brilliant throughout this. As far as I am concerned he is welcome at Perry Barr at any time and I want to make him honorary life-president. Without Tony, the sport would never have returned to Birmingham.

“I have some big ideas and I am very ambitious. At the moment we are a Premier League club but I guess you can never rule anything out in this sport, if the Elite League wanted us then I would be happy to talk.

“I must also emphasise this changes nothing between Swindon and me. It is my intention to continue at Swindon alongside Terry Russell at the same time as running Birmingham.”

Mole, meanwhile, will say his farewells at this Wednesday’s M6 Trophy clash with Stoke at Perry Barr. He said: “The time has come for me to take a back seat and I wish Gary all the very best. It’s a sad time for me in many ways but I could never continue forever.

“I will pursue the planning long-term to create a future for the club in order for Gary to take up the option and purchase from me next year. I expect planning to be applied for next August and I will again lobby the British Speedway Promoters’ Association at their AGM to allow the introduction of Prodrive silencers next season. Without them I fear we will not get planning.

“I will address our supporters after Heat 14 on Wednesday night and then again at our end-of-season awards night at Aston Villa FC next Saturday.”