SWINDON Robins owner Terry Russell still has his fingers crossed regarding the proposed redevelopment at the Abbey Stadium, despite stadium owner’s Gaming International receiving the green light to redevelop after a review of their planning application on Tuesday night.

In January, Gaming International announced new proposals for the stadium that would see both the greyhound and speedway tracks re-adjusted with new facilities built on the perimeter – replacing the current grandstand and terraces.

That move followed a series of setbacks dating back to 2015, when plans for a new facility were first revealed.

But now with the backing of Swindon Borough Council, who voted nine to one regarding the redevelopment, Russell hopes swift work can inspire a new generation of speedway fans to enter through the turnstiles next season.

He said: “We now hope that Gaming International will do the job that they’ve been threatening to do for some years now.

“All of the obstacles are out of the way now, we want everything to get going.

“As far as the track goes, our side is quite easy – we were just held back for a few weeks while this planning process went through.

“If the dog track is coming in, then a new retaining wall must to be built on the other side of that.

“To relay and change the shape of both the dog and speedway track can be done in pretty much a week – that’s not a big job.

“The redevelopment of the new stands will follow, that’s the hope and the plan right now.”

With a new era at the Abbey Stadium dawning, Robins boss Russell admits the prospect of racing on a new surface is what keeps driving him forward.

He said: “I’ve been at the club for 15 years, the last three or four of them we’ve been looking forward to this new facility.

“Next year is our 70th anniversary – if we can look forward to that in our new facility then we will want to go forward from there for many further years.”