OXFORD Cheetahs speedway boss Steve Purchase has poured cold water on the speculation that former Sandy Lane ace Martin Dugard wants to return to Cowley.

Purchase said: "Martin is certainly an exciting rider round here, but news that he wants to come here hasn't reached me yet."

Purchase has admitted that the search for a out-and-out No 1 rider is proving harder than he thought.

Negotiations with one rider have broken down because Purchase is not prepared to break the bank and he is no nearer signing anyone than he was months ago.

His choices are very limited. At present, possibly three men could be available - Jason Crump, Mark Loram and possibly world champion Tony Rickardsson.

All three would definitely want top money, but unless Purchase can find a main sponsor willing to put £20,000 into the club, they all remain a remote possibility. Meanwhile, it appears that although there will be a few changes to last year's squad, we could see most of them back for another year at Sandy Lane.

Purchase added: "I couldn't have upset them that much last year when I told them they were free to speak to other clubs, because most of them want to return."

Paul Hurry, who won the Brighton Bonanza Indoor title on Saturday, is urging Cheetahs to make their mind up over his future.

Hurry doesn't know if Oxford are prepared to release him.

He said: "I would like to know sooner rather than later. It's all getting a bit frustrating."

Story date: Thursday 16 December

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