THE Saints - the speedway version that is - are marching back to happiness after an exciting new link up with the Islanders Speedway Club.

Southampton once boasted the National speedway champions but they lost their track - and their way - for amost 40 years before hitting the comeback trail in 1999. Now, in 2001, they are set to compete on a regular basis.

Bolstered by financial support from Wightlink Ferries and York Fitness, and the chance to become second team for the successful Islanders Speedway Club, they will make a full scale comeback against Sittingbourne at Ryde in early April.

David Croucher, whose father Bert was a leading light in the great old Saints team of the 1950s and 60s, has spearhead the cause to bring speedway racing back to Southampton where a new track has yet to be found.

When he recently unveiled the new 2001 Saints Race Jackets sponsored by York Fitness, the Wightlink/Saints Co-Promoter Croucher said: "This is not just a case of us using somebody else's track. The Wightlink Islanders' promotion team, headed by Dave Pavitt and Martin Newnham, are 'adopting' us as a second team.

"And we can't thank them enough for giving us this opportinity. Our links with Poole Pirates will remain and we'll be running our second halves at the Elite League Wimborne Road track, but we now consider ourselves to be based on the Isle of Wight and look forward to running as a nursery club for the Premier League Islanders."

Croucher has spent the last two years running a trackless and pennyless Saints speedway team assisted by lifelong speedway stalwarts Pete Redfern and Andy Day.

He added : "This new tie up could lead to us running in the Conference League or a Third Division in 2002. I am overwhelmed by the enthusiasm with which we have been received on the Island.

"We mean to give the supporters some exciting racing to watch and as a bonus April 3 when we race Sittingbourne, we'll be giving away a free souvenier programme to everybody on the night."

Both press and practice days on the IOW on March 24 and 27, are open to the public, and Saints will be running their first 'second half' of the season at Poole Stadium on Wednesday, March 28. Croucher said that Saints should be running at least four full 15-heat meetings on the Island with six second halves at Poole.

"We also hope to be able to revisit all the tracks we went to last year including Mildenhall, Rye House, Buxton and look forward to arranging some new fixtures with teams like Boston and Somerset Rebels."

Croucher is still looking for meeting and race sponsors and programme advertisers to bolster The Saints' meager funds., and anybody willing to help can contact him through his Southampton office at 49-53 Queensway, Southampton.

The new-looked Wightlink Saints take on Sittingbourne Crusaders in a Challenge Match on Tuesday, April 3 when they select from Chris Hunt (captain), Geoff Batt, Chris Schramm, Dan Giffard, Jamie Holmes, Terry Day, Tom Brown, Danny Slater.