MORE THAN 20 speedway riders from Australia and America, including Swindon Robins skipper Troy Batchelor, were last week informed their visas had been revoked while their clubs, who sponsor the riders’ visa applications, had their licences to employ migrant (non EU) riders removed, writes Phil Rice.

The Home Office has confirmed it had found failings in British speedway clubs’ dealings with visas for non-European riders and are working with the sport to improve their sponsorship process.

The manner in which speedway’s loan system is operated is thought to be the key issue.

Meanwhile, the Robins are working with the authorities to apply for a new licence.

Batchelor needs to apply for a new visa in order to race this season. Those closest to the negotiations think that he will be successful but the question is will this be by the start of the campaign.

Fellow Australian, and Swindon Robins rider Nick Morris, holds a British passport and is not affected.

The Home Office said: “Most sports people from outside the European Economic Area must be sponsored by a licensed Tier 2 or Tier 5 sponsor (ie the clubs) before they can come to the UK for work. It is the responsibility of those sponsors to ensure they fulfil their duties in relation to the immigration rules.”

Already Berwick Bandits have dropped a young Australian and brought in a British rider and it does appear that Australia, a rich home of young talent in a country where solo speedway has little support, may well cease to be the breeding ground it is now.

Many think the Premier League will be more severely affected and with a dearth of young British talent at that level, there could be a dramatic impact in that competition.

Some Aussie riders on Twitter suggested that they had better marry their British girlfriends quickly to get round the problem!