Could Cradley Heathens speedway club be coming home after 20 years?

Land in the Cradley area has been identified for a possible new track, with bosses in discussions with Dudley Council over a move.

The Heathens have struggled to find a permanent home after losing their track in Dudley Wood two decades ago.

The club secured its immediate future last year after agreeing a deal to race at Monmore Green in Wolverhampton, where it spent four seasons from 2011 to 2014.

A return to Dudley could be a way off yet, however, with talks at a very early stage but the aim has always been to return to its roots.

The exact site has not been disclosed but Heathens chairman Nigel Pearson said it was in the Cradley/Dudley area.

He said: "There is a piece of land we have done a site visit on and I can confirm there were officers from Dudley Council at that site visit. To progress further we have got to sit down with the leaders and officers.

"It remains the ultimate aim of the management of the club and our dearest wish to see speedway back in the Cradley area to take the club forward.

"We're really enjoying racing in Wolverhampton and grateful to everybody in Wolverhampton but we would love to see the Heathens back in the Cradley/Dudley area for the first time since 1995."

Council leader Pete Lowe said: "We have acknowledged the tremendous achievements of Cradley Heathens, and for many years have carried out extensive searches within the Dudley borough for a location for a speedway track, and have not been able to find anywhere suitable.

"We have given the group a commitment that we will work with them to evaluate any sites which they can come up with and which they feel they have a realistic chance of securing in order to establish whether we can address all of the relevant planning, access and environmental considerations, and this commitment remains."

Supporters have suffered frustration in their long bid to see the Heathens race in the Dudley borough.