A city weekly is bidding to save its local speedway club after it was kicked out of the sports’ top division.

The Coventry Observer has launched the ‘Save Our Bees’ campaign in aid of the Coventry Bees after the team was told by the British Speedway Promoters Association that it will not be allowed to compete in the 2017 Speedway Great Britain Premiership.

The ban comes after the Bees were unable to convince the governing body that they had a sound plan in place which would enable them to compete due to a dispute between the former owner of the club’s Brandon Stadium home track and the current landowner Brandon Estates.

The news marks the end of 88 years of speedway history in Coventry.

Since forming, the Bees have won 36 major championships – including the Elite League, British League, Midland Cup, British League Knockout Cup, Craven Shield and more.

Observer reporter Shaun Reynolds, who is leading the campaign, said: “It’s a terrible shame a sporting club as big as the Coventry Bees can be lost as a result of an off-track dispute.

“The club is world-famous, people from across all four corners of the globe will know about the Bees.

“Our campaign calls on the Coventry Bees, Brandon Estates, Rugby Borough Council and all relevant institutions to support getting the Coventry Bees are back on track for the 2018 SGB Premiership season and ensuring a long-term plan is developed so the Bees can look forward to a bright future away from their Brandon home once a potential lease ends.”