SHEFFIELD co-owner Peter Mole says next week’s return of fans to sports events is great news for next season’s speedway prospects.

The sport’s bosses have already set out an Easter relaunch for the sport after seeing the 2020 season wiped out by the pandemic.

Despite the success of live streaming of behind closed doors events including the British Final, a full season with no fans is simply not an option.

Now with the prospect of a mass vaccination programme by the spring and football crowds set to be back in areas in tiers one and two, Mole is excited about 2021.

He said: “An Easter start has been suggested and being slightly later than normal not only will we have more time to prepare, but the weather should be more favourable to get us off to a fantastic start.

“There is a lot of positivity in general currently, with the fantastic news of a vaccine being imminent, tremendous respect to the scientists and labs who have worked tirelessly in developing this so quickly.

“That aside, it’s a huge plus that we are now getting close to fans, albeit in limited numbers, attending sports stadiums once more.

“Once football starts to let in fans, other sports will follow. I know many of the lower league teams will not survive unless fans return soon, they are dependent on the revenue.”

Mole also insists venues are ready for fans after investment and hard work into adapting to a covid-secure environment.

He said: “The pressure that was put on the powers that be, I think a return of fans to stadia had to happen.

“Sports stadiums now are so conscious of all the health concerns and safety measures that need to be implemented, the safety of fans will be assured.

“Certainly what I have seen at Owlerton, the whole organisation from admittance to and exiting from the stadium, viewing points, movement of fans around the stadium, eating outlets and bars, has all been reviewed and risk-assessed to current guidelines.

“Universal wearing of masks is the norm and with most sports being predominantly outdoors, I see no reason why fans cannot soon return to stadia and experience the thrill of live sport once more.

“All stadia are experienced in crowd safety and aware of what they must do, they just need the go ahead.”