LEICESTER have moved to sign established National Development League heat-leader Ben Morley who will take over as captain of the Lion Cubs.
And the club are also pleased to confirm a return for a second season for reserve Eli Meadows, who showed good progress in 2025.
Fast-gating Morley, 31, brings plenty of experience to the team having been active at this level since 2009, and he has also proved his capabilities at higher levels.
Last season he rode for Kent in the NDT along with a late-season NDL spell with the Steelers, where he averaged 8.38, and he also has a strong record at the Hydroscand Arena, Beaumont Park.
Manager Jen Crossland said: “Ben was in touch with us when we heard that Kent wouldn’t be running this year, which of course is a shame, and we said we’d be interested to talk once the points limit was known.
“When it became clear that we could use him, it was a sensible move for us to make, especially as we’d already seen how well he fitted in when he guested for us home and away against Oxford.
“Obviously he’s the most experienced rider in the team by a long way and we saw in those meetings last year how prepared he is to get involved in helping out the younger riders, which is so important at this level, and that made him the logical choice to be captain.”
Meanwhile 21-year-old Meadows joined the Lion Cubs last year after previously being associated with Plymouth.
He was unlucky to miss three meetings in two days due to injury in late-June but he showed plenty of potential in the second half of the season, including scores of paid-seven against Middlesbrough and at Sheffield.
Crossland said: “Eli is a rider who will benefit from a consistent run in the team, and he showed that when he came back from injury, because he picked up plenty of important points.
“We’re pleased to be able to give him the opportunity to continue his progress, and he also fitted in really well with everyone at Leicester so we’re looking forward to working with him again.”
The Lion Cubs have one place remaining to complete their team, and this rider will be confirmed on Tuesday.
