WEYMOUTH Wildcats are on the verge of extinction after the Wessex Raceway was repossessed.

Wessex Delivery Partnership LLP (WDP) owns the Radipole Lane site, as well as the remaining land around the football club’s stadium, and has seized control of the track after the Cats failed to pay the rent.

A notice of repossession was yesterday pinned to the entrance of the pits with a security van, sent on WDP’s behalf, also present.

Outgoing chairman Phil Bartlett, who believes the sport is “not viable in this town”, has been trying to offload the ailing club since mid-September and told Echosport that he had in fact found a suitable buyer who was ready to take over the National League outfit at the end of the month.

But this latest setback could mean the end of Speedway in the town – seven years after it was reintroduced by Brian White.

Bartlett said: “We haven’t been able to pay the rent in the last couple of months, because not enough people came through the gates this season.

“Wessex Delivery Partnership have therefore claimed the stadium back and the lease has been forfeited. However, they’ve jum-ped the gun really because I had found a buyer.

“Everything was settled and it was all going through. Had Wessex Delivery waited another two weeks it would have been sorted and the club would have had a new owner.

“Hopefully the interested buyer will contact Wessex Delivery and go from there.”

The club’s future hinges on potential discussions between the unnamed suitor and Wessex Delivery Partnership.

Should the Cats fold, Bartlett admits he will have a large amount sympathy for the loyal supporters.

However, he also delivered a parting shot to those fans who criticised his leadership during a disastrous 2010 campaign, in which the Cats finished bottom of the table.

Bartlett added: “People have been running me down and voting with their feet by not attending. Well they have got what they wanted.

“I have never taken a penny out of the speedway – it’s the other way around – and I do feel sorry for the hardcore fans who love their speedway and came every week. But I can’t keep sustaining £30,000 losses every year.

“Speedway in this town is not viable as there aren’t enough people that support it. Now I can concentrate on my business and my family life, and enjoy it.”