Oxford Cheetahs boss Aaron Lanney is set to wield the axe after the worst start to a season for many years at Sandy Lane.

After eight meetings and eight defeats, enough is enough.

Lanney said: "Changes are afoot and I intend to make three changes, which will give us a much better balanced team.

"We have to try and turn things round and I am hoping that the new-look team can achieve that."

The changes won't take place until Todd Wiltshire joins the team, and they won't come into effect until the re-arranged match at Eastbourne on Friday, April 21.

Lanney added: "The new No 7 will surprise a few. It's always disappointing to drop riders, but I think they have ample time to show if they are going to cut it in the Elite League."

The performances so far are not that unexpected, bearing in mind the make-up of the team.

Most pundits predicted Oxford would be bottom of the league, and they started the season as rank outsiders with William Hill at 25-1.

Admittedly, Lanney had to start from scratch and was not in a position to tempt back the likes of Greg Hancock, Billy Hamill and Niels Kristian Iversen to name just a few.

The galling fact is that all three are riding at the top of their game, with their new clubs Reading, Wolverhampton and Peterborough.

Meanwhile, Wiltshire's work permit has been approved, and Marvyn Cox is getting his bikes ready, so that hopefully the Australian can carry on where he left off before retiring in 2003.