Kent Speedway promoter Len Silver has announced his retirement with the club facing an uncertain future after their Central Park home was sold.

Silver’s co-promoter, Roger Cearns, sold the stadium to Arena Racing Company in April this year, with the new owners yet to confirm that speedway can continue at the Sittingbourne venue.

Cearns sought verbal agreement during the sale but nothing has been ratified in writing, leaving Kent no option but to release all their riders.

That proved the final straw for legendary promoter Silver, 89, who said his stress levels had gone “through the roof” during a difficult 2021 campaign.

“It is with some personal sadness that I can report that as soon as the administration of Kent Speedway affairs is finalised, I will be retiring from all activities concerning Kent Speedway,” said Silver, who was instrumental in bringing the sport to Central Park in 2013.

“I am stepping aside in the hope that a new younger person can take over over the promotion of speedway at Central Park and such a person will receive every possible help and advice from myself.

“The first seven years of my activities at Sittingbourne were a pure delight and enjoyable mainly because of the wonderful attitude of the fans of Kent.

“But 2021, starting with the pandemic and the huge problems that it gave, followed by no less than seven rain-offs and rider retirements, made the stress levels go through the roof.

“Then my co-promoter, Roger Cearns, sold the stadium business with the proviso that speedway remained, only to discover that the delay in receiving a written agreement was such that we were unable to plan for 2022 and we were forced to release all our riders.

“Other issues followed which brought about my decision.

“Speedway has been my life for 75 years and I have loved every minute of it until the last month or two.

“I sincerely hope that speedway has a future at Central Park and I will do all in my power to help that happen.”

Silver has been a speedway promoter since retiring as a rider in 1964 and was inaugurated into the British Speedway Hall of Fame this year.

He promoted at Hackney, Rayleigh, Sunderland, Crewe and Rye House, among others, before Kent’s launch.

Kent run two sides at Central Park, the Kings, who compete in the Championship, and National League outfit the Royals.

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