Ipswich Witches agree sale to new owner

A buyer has been found to take over Ipswich Witches, the reigning British speedway champions.

Promoter Chris Louis put the club up for sale in November, a month after the Witches beat Leicester Lions 93-86 on aggregate in the Premiership play-off final to win their first title for 27 years.

Louis took over as chief promoter from his father John in 2019 and the club also won the Knockout Cup four years later.

"I vowed to leave the club in safe hands and that is why it has taken me this long to announce that a sale has been agreed, subject to contract," he said.

"The sale is now going through due process and until that is complete, I am unable to name the new custodians of our great club.

"I can promise that there is no better person to take the Witches forward and I am truly excited for what the future holds. Work is well underway to build a team capable of competing to retain the title."

The 2026 season is due to begin in March and whoever takes over at Foxhall Stadium, the Witches will be without two of the biggest stars of their title-winning team.

Former world champion Jason Doyle and Emil Sayfutdinov confirmed following the end of the season that they will not be racing in Britain this year.

So far only five teams are confirmed - Belle Vue, Ipswich, King's Lynn, Leicester and Sheffield, two fewer than last year.

But a British Speedway statement on Wednesday said: "Attempts are still being made to include a sixth team in the Premiership.

"The Premiership league format will see teams meeting twice home and away over the course of the season, whilst a change has been made to the play-off format due to league numbers.

"The play-offs will now be contested by the top three teams, with the league leaders going straight to the final and the second and third-placed teams will contest the semi-final.

"Should a sixth team join the Premiership, the play-off format would revert to being contested by the top four teams."