AMBITIOUS plans to honour long-serving Plymouth Devils rider Seemond Stephens have hit the skids, it emerged today.

The inspirational Devils captain was hoping to star in a benefit meeting at the St Boniface Arena on Easter Saturday.

But Devils officials said the meeting will now take place probably next year.

Former Exeter Falcon Stephens, who has been a leading light for the club since Devils were formed in Plymouth four years ago, declined to comment on the situation.

But club officials said the postponement of the eagerly-awaited event had been due to difficulties in getting permission for the meeting from speedway's governing authorities.

A brief statement from the club said: "Plans to launch the Plymouth season with a meeting for Devils skipper Seemond Stephens have been put on hold.

"It had been intended to stage an attractive meeting at the St Boniface Arena on Easter Saturday, with a number of Elite League riders expressing their willingness to turn out for the popular Cornishman.

"It seems, however, the necessary permission from the sport's ruling authorities has not been forthcoming."

The spokesman said Stephens is opting not to comment on the situation, but the latest situation is that plans for the meeting have been shelved, pending an application for the Devils captain to stage a meeting sometime in 2011.

It is now expected Plymouth will open the 2010 season at the St Boniface Arena on Good Friday, April 2. Club chairman Mike Bowden is hoping it will be a challenge fixture against the exciting American Dream Team, although that has still to be confirmed.

Bowden said: "We are hoping to have the fixtures for the new season within the next couple of weeks.

"At the moment our only confirmed fixtures are the Devon and Dorset Trophy clashes against Weymouth, with our home leg on Friday, April 23 and the return at Weymouth 24 hours later, in addition to a home match against Team Viking on Friday, July 2."

The Devils insisted The Novotel will still hold a question and answer session involving Stephens and Devils team-mate Mark Simmonds next Friday (February 12).

The event, set up by the Plymouth Speedway Supporters' Club (PSSC), was to have been the launch of Stephens' benefit meeting.

Tickets for the evening, which starts at 7.45pm, are priced £2 and will be available on the night.