HOT on the heels of confirming the 2010 season launch, the Lakeside Hammers have announced that Ian Smalley will be stepping up to the newly created role of Marketing Manager for the Club.

HOT on the heels of confirming the 2010 season launch, the Lakeside Hammers have announced that Ian Smalley will be stepping up to the newly created role of Marketing Manager for the Club.

Having worked closely in the background with the Club's management team for the last few seasons Smalley, a life long Speedway fan, will be developing a range of new initiatives to help spread the Hammers message.

Smalley commented: “It's been great fun over the last couple of years and we've developed some great ideas and some fantastic relationships. On the back of the team's success last season, now is the time to push on and find as many new angles and opportunities as possible to help increase the profile of the Club even further.”

Co-Promoter Jon Cook said: “Moving forwards, Speedway needs to attract a new generation of supporters. Ian's expertise in new media and communication makes him an ideal person to let these potential new fans know that Speedway is a fabulous sport and great entertainment".

Using his experience as a Creative Director, Smalley will initially be tasked with increasing the Club's news output from the start of the season, whilst also exploring both new digital and traditional channels to continue to increase awareness of the Hammers in and around London, Essex and the South East.

Smalley continued: “We've got some exciting initiatives in the pipeline, some which will be specifically aimed at attracting younger fans to come along to the Raceway.

The input of the Hammers fans is also vital in spreading the word and we are creating a new marketing tool kit to help with this. It's their Club, so any thoughts and ideas to help attract both new and lapsed fans are always appreciated”.

Ian Smalley can be contacted by email via the Club's official website at www.lakesidehammers.com