THE term Barmy Army may be out of favour for the fans following the England cricket team in India, but it is alive and kicking down at Sittingbourne Crusaders.

A new consortium of fans from the self-styled "Barmy Crusadin’ Army", who established a reputation as speedway's most vocal supporters following the club during last year's Conference campaign, have made a statement regarding their new role in helping to run the Iwade-based club.

Consortium founder Will Hulbert said: "Last year there was a very loyal group of fans who supported the Crusaders, and despite many disappointments and set-backs on the track we maintained our enthusiasm to the greater cause of establishing league speedway back in Kent.

"Obviously there were concerns when chairman Graham Arnold announced he couldn’t carry on running meetings.

"So we began to put together the idea of the consortium: a group of fans and others involved with the club - including Chris Hunt, the Crusaders’ skipper in 2005 – with the intention that we would assist in the preparation and running of all matters around sponsorship, fund-raising and the putting on of team matches."

The proposals put together by the consortium have been rubber-stamped and it’s now all systems go for the 2006 campaign.

Hulbert added: "We can confirm that the Crusaders will be carrying on as the county’s only league speedway club participating in the brand-new Conference Shield event."

"That competition, which is likely to start in July, will also include the UK's newest club, the Plymouth Devils, as well as a number of the established Conference sides, Sittingbourne took on last year.

"Team manager duties for the Crusaders will be shared by Chris Hunt and Stuart Lee-Aimes."