THE immediate future of Cradley Heathens has been secured despite another scare over having a place to race.

Wolverhampton, Cradley's hosts in 2016, require more use of their Monmore Green facility in 2017 following a winter shake-up of speedway's top flight, restricting the number of race nights available to their National League counterparts.

But having reached an agreement to also ride at Perry Barr, Birmingham on some Wednesdays, the nomadic club will again go to tapes for the new season.

A club statement read: "With Wolverhampton now needing a minimum of 18 Mondays for the expanded SGB Premiership, serious doubts emerged over whether the Heathens could be accommodated.

"But thanks to both Ladbrokes and the Wolverhampton Speedway management, they will race on Mondays there and a handful of regular Wednesdays at Birmingham.

"Heathens bosses would like to express their sincere appreciation to Wolverhampton, Birmingham and stadium landlords for making the venues available.

"This was the only viable solution in order to keep the club on track for an eighth successive season – the alternative was closure with no immediate prospect of a piece of land for the club nearer to the Cradley area."

Meanwhile, Cradley, who lost their Dudley Wood Stadium to housing development in 1995, still harbour hopes of finding a permanent site in to put down roots in Dudley.

"Whilst the club acknowledge doubts over the club’s future are never ideal in the winter, it remains committed to taking the Heathens into a stadium of their own – although they have yet to hold further talks with Dudley Council."