PIRATES co-promoter Gordon Pairman has ruled himself out of the running to take over at Belle Vue.

Pairman was one of a number of interested parties but decided against leading a consortium to take charge of the Aces.

He said: “I was approached about buying in to Belle Vue towards the end of last season.

“At the end of November, I was invited to meet a key member of Manchester City Council to find out if there was a way forward. As a consequence of that meeting, I submitted a business proposal to the council.

“I put a shareholder structure and a management team together which would ensure the survival of what to many is the biggest name in world speedway. But I have run out of time to make anything happen.

“I am out of the country for most of the rest of January and am already committed to other matters for much of February. Belle Vue needs someone who can commit both a large sum of money to the enterprise and more time than I have available.

“During my discussions, I have kept my co-promoter and the owner of Poole Speedway, Matt Ford, fully informed and I really appreciate him keeping the door open for me.

"I am looking forward to being back at Wimborne Road in March."