Former Kent Kings promoter and speedway legend Len Silver has died at the age of 92.

Kings were the final club of Silver’s long and distinguished career in the sport.

He launched the team at Central Park in 2013 and ran the show until his retirement in 2021, from recruiting riders to preparing the track on his tractor.

Silver died at home on Sunday morning, with Derek Barclay, general manager of the relaunched Kings, among those to pay tribute.

Barclay worked under Silver in the Central Park years, describing him as the “greatest name in British speedway”.

Recalling their time together and playing Silver’s favourite song, Nobody Does It Better, by Carly Simon, Barclay added: “I was so proud to be his announcer and press officer at Kent Kings Speedway from 2013 to 2021 - an incredible honour and what an experience to work for such a legend and great, great man.

“He was in his 90s by the time we were forced to close at Central Park and my last and forever abiding memory of the place was seeing Len on his trusty tractor on the track while I played his favourite song.

“Yes, as announcer, I was in charge of the music, too, and the record Len had asked me to play at the end of each meeting was from his favourite artist, Carly Simon, and is a perfect epitaph for Len, I’d say - Nobody Does It Better.

“Nobody ever did and it’s unlikely anyone ever will in the future either.”

Silver won the 1962 Provincial League Riders’ Championship but his racing career was cut short by injury following a crash at Hackney two years later.

He moved into promoting and also enjoyed two spells as Great Britain and England manager in a highly successful era in World Team Cup speedway.

Silver’s promoting career included 20 years at Hackney while in 1999 he bought Rye House Stadium, winning Premier League titles with the Rockets in 2005 and 2007.

He was inducted into the British Speedway Hall of Fame in 2021 - just the second person to achieve the honour.