PREMIERSHIP CEO Phil Morris says the appointment of legendary football manager Harry Redknapp to the Speedway Futures Management team marks a major step forward in efforts to raise the sport’s commercial and media profile.
Redknapp, 78, enjoyed a stellar career as player and manager, making over 100 appearances for both West Ham and Bournemouth.
He then had extensive spells in charge of both clubs before going on to great success as manager at Portsmouth and Tottenham.
Away from the game, Redknapp’s public popularity was confirmed when he won the 2018 series of ITV reality show ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’
Speedway Futures Ltd was set up in 2024 and became the commercial and media rights holders of British Speedway, with the specific objective of attracting long term commercial investment to develop the sport in the UK.
Morris said: “There’s been extensive work over the last year or so, firstly in terms of bringing together a team of people with experienced commercial backgrounds, and expertise in media, which can help us develop the sport.
“Obviously the aim is to bring additional investment into British Speedway, and we have been talking to major multinational sports investment groups about potential future involvement in speedway in the UK.
“Speedway Futures are the new media and commercial rights holders for British Speedway, and we do have various potential deals in discussion which we believe can make a real difference to the sport
“As far as Harry is concerned, it’s marvellous news, and it comes from a direct connection with a member of the Speedway Futures team who approached him about getting involved.
“He will be joining the Speedway Futures Management team, which is great news. He will be focussing on leveraging his commercial and media contacts for the benefit of British Speedway and also actively raising the sport’s profile through all his connections.
“He has over 1.4 million followers on social media, and that automatically creates a new audience and gives us the opportunity to reach out to groups who we wouldn’t otherwise be able to target.
“To bring in someone with such a general reach and appeal as Harry can only help us to increase overall interest and hopefully bring in significant investment.”
Redknapp, who has spent the bulk of his career based on the South Coast, says he remains a regular viewer of the sport and is excited by his opportunity to help shape the future.
He said: “I watch it on TNT Sports, and it’s fantastic entertainment. These guys are going from 0-60 quicker that a Formula One car, with no brakes, and they risk life and limb every time they race.
“I only live a few miles from Poole Stadium and back in the day I often took my boys Mark and Jamie to the speedway to watch the brave daredevils in action, and it is still the great evening out that it always was.
“I love it, it’s a fantastic and exciting watch and must be the rawest form of motorsport in the world.
“I know once people go they will want to keep going back. TNT Sports are getting great audiences for the live events and the traditional clubs are getting big crowds…and I really want to be part of making speedway huge again, that is certainly my aim!”