GLASGOW'S only professional motorcycle racing team is making a last ditch attempt to keep the club going.

Current Speedway champions the Glasgow Tigers face closure unless a new owner is found.

The 66-year-old club has called a meeting of supporters this weekend to update fans on the immediate future of the club.

The Ashfield team has been in severe financial difficulty for a number of years and needs to raise a substantial sum, understood to be five figures, to pay off debts.

Club bosses are hoping the meeting will help generate ideas and a plan of action which could turn the club's fortunes around.

Formed in 1946 the club are the current Premier League Speedway champions.

The team, which is sponsored by Western Commercial, currently averages 620 fans at its 2200-capacity arena.

A club spokesman, said: "I cannot emphasise this enough, we desperately need all Tigers fans and speedway minded people of the city to turn out on Saturday night.

"The very future of the club, after 66 years as sporting institution in this great city, may depend on the enthusiasm and show of support of our fans. Without them there is no future.

"The message is simple, if you want speedway to continue in Glasgow, please make sure you come along this Saturday night and show your support."

The club was plunged into crisis in 2009 after it lost its sponsor, Buildbase, and £7500 of funding.

The speedway side has also faced several battles to stay at Ashfield Stadium, in Possilpark.

In 2005 club bosses objected to plans to build flats and offices just yards from their base.

They claimed it would have left their stadium, which it rents from Ashfield Football Club, difficult for race-goers to access and severely limited parking spaces.

Seven year ago the club almost folded over noise complaints. It was forced to raise hundreds of pounds to build sound barriers to meet environmental health rules before racing could resume.

The Tigers had a brief ~ 4 year spell at Hampden Park from 1969-1972. However, the on track death of Svein Kaasa on 29 September 1972 cast a shadow over the club and at the end of that season the Tigers were searching for a new home.

The meeting is being held on Saturday at the Queen Mary Suite of the city's Marriott Hotel, 500 Argyle Street, at 5pm.

It will be followed by a live screening of the final Grand Prix from Torun, Poland.

Glasgow Tigers will face Redcar Bears at Ashfield stadium on Sunday (start time 4pm) in their home leg of the Premier Challenge Trophy.

caroline.wilson@ eveningtimes.co.uk