PETE Toogood stood down as chairman of the British Speedway Promoters' Association at the sport’s annual meeting over the weekend.

Toogood attended proceedings in Bournemouth on Thursday to oversee business and see his successor appointed.

Edinburgh's Alex Harkess has been voted in by fellow members to replace Toogood, with Poole's Matt Ford also joining him on the top table as vice-chairman.

Lakeside's Jon Cook, Jonathan Chapman of King's Lynn and Sheffield's Neil Machin are the other committee members.

Toogood said: "I would like to take this opportunity to wish Alex and his colleagues all the very best and I hope they oversee a very successful time for our wonderful sport.

"It's a sad day for me in many ways, but I feel this move is the right thing to do with my increasing business commitments. I am sure our sport has an exciting future."

Meanwhile, Swindon co-owner Terry Russell has been replaced as president of the association by Birmingham’s Tony Mole.

The reserve management committee members are Colin Pratt of Coventry for the Elite League and Newcastle's George English at Premier League level.

Swindon team boss Alun Rossiter was delighted with how the annual meeting went, saying: “I think there was a lot of positives to come out of it.”

Meanwhile, it has been announced that the white helmet colour will be used in British speedway next year in order to fall back into line with other European countries.

It will replace the green helmet colour, which has been used for the past decade for the purpose of interactive television.