Eastbourne Eagles boss Bob Dugard heads to an emergency meeting of Elite League clubs today admitting: “We’ve got serious financial problems.”

Top flight tracks have been called to the get together in Rugby specifically to discuss a new TV deal.

However the question of how to cut costs or boost attendances could also arise after some clubs suffered a tough start to the season.

Eagles are losing about £7,000 per meeting and some rival tracks are thought to be faring even worse.

Dugard had warned of tough times ahead during the winter and, through The Argus, argued teams should cut their fixture list in half and only race each other once home and away.

His comments caused a storm in the world of speedway and he was fined by the governing body.

Now, after just three home meetings, Dugard admits: “Eastbourne could not see the season out with these attendances. There is no way we can sustain these losses.

“We had 919 against Belle Vue on Saturday, our crowd (of 800) against Lakeside was shocking and the Elite Shield against Poole (980) was disastrous. Poole had a very similar experience when we went over there.”

“I got fined £1,000 for saying it could be better to only run the A fixtures. People thought I was saying something terrible at the time but it was clear we were in a serious situation “We have averaged about 850 people per meeting with the exception of the Dean Barker Farewell, for which he got 1,600. That shows people will come out but we have a credit crunch and it is an international problem.”

Even speedway-mad Poland has problems as sponsors pull out.

World champion and former Eastbourne skipper Nicki Pedersen this week split with Czestochowa after they asked him to take a pay cut.

Eastbourne have home meetings with Poole on Good Friday and Lakeside a week on Saturday which would normally be decent pay days.

Dugard said: “I think the remainder of this month will be critical. A lot depends, as well, on the outcome of today’s meeting.

“Someone somewhere has got to face up to the facts. Maybe it’s different for us because we run a quite successful business away from speedway but we do that by keeping on top of what’s happening.”

However, any attempt by Dugard to cut the fixture list is likely to receive, at best, minimal support.

Eastbourne have frozen admission prices this season but received complaints for charging £1 extra to sit in the covered stand rather than stand on the terracing, much of which is uncovered.

Dugard said: “We have been charging for the stand at stock car meetings for 20 years.”

The hearing to fix a fee for Edward Kennett’s move to Coventry has been adjourned to a date to be arranged. Eagles hope to pocket £40,000 for the rider.