OXFORD Cheetahs fans, on tenterhooks for the last few weeks as their team bid to clinch the Sky Sports Elite League speedway title, must wait a bit longer after the big clash against Coventry next Friday was postponed.

Leaders Cheetahs need to beat Coventry in this crunch clash to make sure of landing the crown, and it was all set for October 5 at Oxford Stadium.

Now, however, it will not take place until Friday, October 19.

Cheetahs promoter Vanessa Purchase said the decision was taken "for a variety of reasons".

But my guess is that it is to accomodate Sky Sports who would want the Cheetahs v Coventry clash to be the final televised meeting of the year, a grand finale.

Next week's other important league meeting between Peterborough and Poole will still go ahead next Friday, with Poole needing to win to stay in the hunt for the title.

Eastbourne will now be Oxford's opponents next Friday in a Craven Shield fixture that means little to Cheetahs, who are already out of the running for honours.

Meanwhile, Oxford are looking at the possibilty of signing another rider to cover for the injured Lukas Dryml for the last three matches of the season.

However, it must be a rider who has not ridden in this country this year, and the name on everyone's lips is former Cheetah Bo Brhel.

The Czech star rode very well during this year's World Cup and would probably do a decent job for Oxford.

With Lukas Dryml's average dropping next month, Oxford would not be able to use either Leigh Adams or Todd Wiltshire if they opt to use rider-replacement for him in the remaining fixtures.

THREE Oxford riders can forget the chase for the league title tonight as Leigh Adams, Todd Wiltshire and Brian Andersen take in the final Grand Prix fixture of the season in Stockholm.

The Swedish Grand Prix at the Olympic Stadium should be a formality for leader Tony Rickardsson, while Adams and Wiltshire will be out to seal top-ten places to avoid the GP Challenge in Slovenia next month.

That's a fate to which Andersen is already resigned.

THE SOS Club are holding a barbecue at the Green Road Club, Kidlington, where the GP will be shown on a giant screen.