Both Poole and Eastbourne has been linked up to take part in the competition which was also due feature top clubs from Poland, Sweden and Denmark.

Poole co-promoter Gordon Pairman told his clubs website: "I suppose I should have seen this coming as the organisers have been quiet on the subject lately, but it still comes as a great blow to the club, its supporters and sponsors.

"We had put the dates in our fixture list and even had TV coverage agreed with Sky Sports, who do so much for British speedway, but sadly we've now got to face up to the fact that we will not be taking the club into Europe this year.

"I was particularly looking forward to the Swedish clash - the English Pirates against Piraterna.

Blow

"It would surely have been one of the highlights of the season especially as they would have brought with them the current individual world champions in the form of Greg Hancock and Maciej Janowksi .

"I have spoken with Eastbourne's co-promoter Mike Bellerby and he is equally mystified as well as disappointed. He gathered that there has been some disagreement over the rights to these meetings, but frankly this should have been sorted out months ago.

"The BSPA comes in for much criticism, some of it justified, but this time the problems come from outside of the UK.

"I know there has been some opposition and resistance to these meetings but my view is that if you're not looking to innovate then you are going backwards. And going backwards is not something Matt Ford is famous for.

"The news was broken whilst Matt was away on a well deserved break and I know he is extremely disappointed to have been told that his dream has been put on ice.

"The only positive to come from this news is that it will drive us on even more this season to make the Elite League play-off final so that we can be at the forefront for when the competition does eventually come to fruition in 2013."

Eastbourne co-promoter Mike Bellerby added: "We are very disappointed that this innovative competition has been postponed for this year and want to make it crystal clear that the decision not to proceed lies outside the control of Eastbourne Speedway."