Tony Mole insists that supporters should not automatically look towards Workington when it comes to the likely make-up of next season's Premier League speedway team at Birmingham.

With Mole owning the Comets operation at Derwent Park as well as relaunching the sport at Perry Barr, there has been speculation that the Brummies team could include several riders with Workington connections.

But while the yet-to-be installed general manager of Birmingham will have the option of including Mole's assets in his team, the two clubs will have separate asset bases and therefore Workington will have first call on riders belonging to that outfit.

Mole said: "As far as the Birmingham team is concerned, I have a completely blank piece of paper and whoever takes charge of the team will naturally want to have some input.

"I will not be raiding Workington. Workington and Birmingham will run under the same promotion but with different day-today managers, and the only way Birmingham will include Workington riders is if they are surplus to requirements at Derwent Park.

"Because of the uncertainty over planning, I haven't been in a position to have any constructive thoughts on a team."

With Mole's application to enter the Brummies into the 2007 Premier League a mere formality to be rubber-stamped at the annual meeting of the British Speedway Promoters Association next month, team planning can commence straight after the end of this season.

The season is almost at an end already for Wolver-hampton, who went out of the Craven Shield at East-bourne on Saturday - although in reality the damage had been done in the previous two legs at Monmore Green and Ipswich.

A patched-up side put up a spirited showing at Arlington to finish nine points behind the home side on the night, and level with Ipswich, with East-bourne overhauling their starting deficit of seven points to clinch a place in the Final.

Freddie Lindgren topscored for Wolves with ten points from four rides, and skipper Peter Karlsson made a successful return from injury with eight, including two race wins.

Wolves' final team action of the season will be the Midland Trophy clashes with local rivals Coventry - a rivalry made all the more intense by a recent spat between the promotions after the Bees ended Wolves' play-off hopes at Brandon last month.

Wolves stage the home leg a fortnight tonight, but the date for the return fixture is yet to be confirmed as Coventry are still involved in other competitions.

This week, they attempt to bring the Knockout Cup back to Brandon, for the first time since way back in 1967, when they face a two-legged Final against Belle Vue, the team they overcame to win the Elite League Championship last year.

Bees travel to Kirkmanshulme Lane for the first leg tonight, and then host he return fixture at home on Friday.

Co-boss Peter Oakes said: "The length of time since Coventry last won the Knockout Cup really staggers me, because they have been one of the famous clubs in the sport since the Sixties.

"It's much too long a gap, and we must focus on trying to bring it back to Brandon."