In response to your questions..
1] For £40 you can get yourself a 2.4ghz stick system from Etronix (
http://www.etronix-rc.com/etronix-pu...dio-system.php) which is more than enough to use with the 14B. Then stick your pistol transmittor and reciever onto eBay and get some money back
2]If, by your own admission, you are a happy club racer then why not just stick with the NiMh's? Infact why not put a "wanted" ad on the forums for the other 14B drivers NiMh packs and get them off of them for silly cheap money!
If you are racing at a local club for giggles then NiMhs are more than adequate for your needs, and could provide a very cheap battery solution to you.