Birmingham's two greyhound tracks face a bright future despite the forthcoming break up of their owner Wembley. Several offers, including what is thought to be one from the existing management, are believed to be on the table for the Perry Barr and Hall Green sites. The two stadiums are part of the six tracks put up for sale by gaming group Wembley yesterday after the former stadium owner agreed to offload its division in the United States. The moves, which will lead to the break-up of the group, come seven months after a £308 million takeover by US gaming consortium BLB Investors collapsed. BLB, which already owns 22 per cent of Wembley, has now returned with a fresh proposal to buy the US gaming division, which comprises 90 per cent of the company's operations and features sites in Rhode Island and Colorado. It has agreed to pay £182.5 million for the division, although the agreement is still subject to a number of conditions. The deal would leave Wembley with its UK gaming arm, which features greyhound tracks at Belle Vue in Manchester, Wimbledon, Oxford and Portsmouth as well as Perry Barr and Hall Green. The sale for the division, which reported an operating profit of £3.6 million last year, is expected to fetch around £50 million. Stephen Rea, general manager of the Perry Barr and Hall Green tracks, said there had been a number of offers which were in the advanced stage of negotiations. He said: "We have known for some time that Wembley was looking to sell off the business. "We have met with potential purchasers, and we know who they are. All I can say is there are several interested parties and the sale should be agreed in the next month. "Whatever happens, Hall Green and Perry Barr will have a bright future." Mr Rea said the negotiations were to buy all six race tracks and run them as a going concern. He said: "We are the biggest operator of greyhound racing in the UK, and we are a successful and profitable business. "The potential buyers have been whittled down to a select few who have received the final go ahead." Around 200 people work at each track in Birmingham, which have seen a resurgence in recent years. Mr Rea said: "We have just completed £3 million in the refurbishment of Perry Barr while Hall Green is one of the most modern stadiums in the country and we have investment plans to make it even better. "Greyhound racing is the second most popular spectator sport in the country. On a Saturday at Hall Green we get up to 4,000 people, while at Perry Barr we get about 3,000." Mr Rea said the sites could also prove attractive for people looking to set up casinos following the introduction of new gaming laws in the UK. The sales should lead to a significant return of cash to shareholders in the London-based group, which sold the 80-year Wembley Stadium in 1999. | 
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