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What a load of absolute horsesh!t!! so i will be the first one to bite. Riders this riders that? What about the fans?Where is the respect for them? Who without them there is no speedway!! Fans are treat with utter contempt the length and breadth of the country man, They are shafted for value for money in everyway imaginable yet still pay their monies, people are sick of paying over inflated prices to watch substandard racing on ill prepared tracks, with poxy made up rules and short handed teams. they are treat like mushrooms and drip fed information when it suits. If you pay your money you are entitled to an opinion both good and bad surely?? Speedway riders are not gods imo and to suggest they do it for our entertainment is both futile and ridiculous, if that was the case they would do it for free or basic expenses.... they dont and no one forces them to ride either... our armed forces, police force, fire fighters put themselves in danger for us ffs not bloody speedway riders!! You will be telling us jockeys are the same no doubt? Yes its a dangerous sport but its their choice to ride ours to watch. Speedway fans are far too passive in accepting sh!te and being told to be thankful like promoters, riders and the bspa are doing us a favor. Wake up and smell the coffee man because without or after this generation of fans there will be no speedway because society today wont accept or support the current shambles that is speedway in the UK. Ive been going to Newcastle for 40 years, it was a passion, it was part a massive part of my life it was a drug.. I loved it. Now i couldnt give a monkeys if i go or not... so where are the next lot of die hards coming from?? Who is going to stand up for the fans? Etc.. id rather voice my opinion and how i feel rather than sit apathetic creaming my self thinking a bloke in kevlars is a god or a hero... and told to be thankful!! Thankful for what?. Says something when you couldnt care a less about something you once lived for... and im not alone.

Something fundamentally wrong when you have the same rider number 1 in Cham/Prem.

There is a major reason to do with the Kevlars and it has nothing to do with money what so ever. The star is wrong. Poole are in the best financial position for about 5 years. Im sure some people know the major issues which have happened. But Ford has not got money issues. If you can afford 100K for dudek then I think it’s secure!

RICHARD Clark succeeded me as Editor of SS early in 1996! Andrew Skeels has been on the staff since 1983. Since 1996 I have been both Managing Editor and Managing Director and the majority shareholder in Pinegen Limited, publishers of Speedway Star, so my responsibilities are much wider than the editorial content of the mag. We are committed to further improving the mag and Andrew (or Scunny as he is affectionately known, hailing from Scunthorpe and being a massive fan of the town's soccer and speedway clubs) is the person to drive it forward at a very challenging time with speedway attendances, and hence our potential readership, dwindling.

Come on Flappy, you’re getting a bit tedious now, we know the team will be crap, but honestly, stop going on about it, what’s done is done, changes won’t happen, support the side that is put out, or move on, and keep it down on your way out.

...different eras with different criteria regarding team make-ups. With the introduction of varying points limits and later compulsory juniors plus two reserve races during one particular period helped to distort averages over a given period.

I stopped attending years ago but still have the club at heart having travelled the country from top to bottom for many seasons. Expectation with Panthers fans has always been high after being at the very top of the tree in 99 & 06 to some that expectation still exists to others realisation has kicked in bigtime.

Happy clappers are one of the reasons why speedway is in such a state.

Reading 'The Role of the SCB' on their website, it states that every year they produce a 'Rule Book' (I am pretty certain they don't write it, that is the function of the BSPA) and, thereafter they adjudicate on 'interpretation and application of said rules' (it is not, in my opinion, within their remit, to approve, amend or delete rules). On that basis, if the BSPA wants to bar Premiership riders with an average over 6 who do not already have a Championship average, then I do not feel it is the SCB's role to go against them no matter how inequitable the issue becomes in respect of affected riders.

I agree with Triple.H. in that the National League should be about bringing on the youngsters. BUT I do NOT agree that a rider of little ability should get a team place when talented YOUNGSTERS of proven ability are out of work. Due entirely to the doubtful decision to restrict the points limit to 39 when it should have been 42.5. I hope that this lesson is learned so that future seasons see a change in the ruling.

There's one way to sort it . . . Amalgamate into a proper BRITISH LEAGUE

Wrong decision, if so.

Try explaining that to wa mate !!!

The are the bookies favourites and with no less than 3 ringers in the team (4 if you include Noddy) - it would be the biggest choke in speedway history if they don't win!

Cup and Shield matches have traditionally been excluded from averages so that (in theory) all riders end up with an average gained riding against the same opposition. Also it was to avoid the early season opening competition being used to manipulate the team total in order to make changes for the later league campaign......

i feel this nicholls thing has gone on long enough . either ged needs to come clean and tell the panthers faithful just what is going on or the faithful will become un faithful . it cant keep going on like this . its either the scb/bspa muppets or soupremo need to put it out and say yes or no to nicholls/kennet etc . i can understand the fans being disgruntled about all this , at the end of the day , its geds fault and he is waiting for the golden rabbit to come to the top of the hat . are the fans still trusting ged on this one or are they really in deep 5hite , who knows ? but , best of luck whoever you end up with . ( if ged is just stringing the fans along . he will pay for his actions as the fans MAY turn their backs on the sport in Peterborough ). come on ged , show some ba11s and tell the fans what is going on .

Not at all

And he's sacked Giles Hartwell in a protest against BT Sport? (skint)

I gather that Greg Hancock will be riding in the Scottish second division this year

If the contract with BT states teams must wear a certain type of track suit and a specific team wont abide by the contract, then if I was BT I would be pulling out. Of course, I dont know what the contract says...... but I cannot see how one team can do whatever they want if the contract says different. No wonder British speedway is in the state it is if one team can simply do its own thing.

Simple choice really , either be prepared to accept it or finish up with no speedway. As I like the sport I am prepared to put up with this, everybody has the same choice

I don’t mind the new logo..... could be a lot worse look at poole’s website muchly improved - good to hear guy nicholls suggesting as long as he’s in business he’ll be involved in backing speedway!

I ain't gotta put up with anything, never have and never will.

Make do?? Or find something else to do with their money, I think a few will.

I agree to a point, however due to Holdergate last season it was another will they, won't they run winter. I just see it as a real opportunity missed not to kick on from the KOC win, we lost our best riders due to us not being in a position to tie them due to the above.

It was a good one

That's has got to be the best post I have ever read on this forum.

Just wondering why this is confined to the Premiership section of the Forum ?

Good Luck

Can see that it's under construction. Can't find any link or previous announcement about it - happy to be corrected though if you'd like to tell me where I can find it. Perfectly acceptable and reasonable to modernise and update things - although I'm not sure the internet address of "formaniteagles" is going to trip off the tongue easily or indeed find any new punters. If you are trying to attract new people it surely makes sense to keep the location in the headline address. Only those already in the know are aware of the team sponsors. Away supporters looking for details of Eastbourne Speedway won't Google "Formaniteagles". In this instance, I think the sponsors are coming cross as bigger than the team - I know they are vital, but to headline them as the internet address is daft in my opinion - of course we hope the sponsorship is a long term affair but by it's nature it can be transient, so are we going to have a new website whenever the main sponsor changes ? Surely there is opportunity to incorporate all the branding and sponsorship details, merchandise etc within the current website? When I wanted to find out details of other clubs, I just Googled, "Kent Speedway", "Stoke Speedway", "Plymouth Speedway" etc and immediately got to the club website.

Since 2003

On the other hand, has the constantly weakening of our leagues helped to make heat leaders out of riders that in 2017 that would have been reserves a few decades ago? Look at the strength (or weakness) of many sides from last year, and ask yourself has a certain rider improved that much... or is it because the league is totally diluted? Strongs sides of past years would severely bruise the top teams of the current day.

Out of interest, how long you been going. The will we wont we has only really been an invention since 2013. Wasn't too much before then apart from David Hawkins and the usual Horton's distress signals, often of their own making. On the big issues I think that you can shout all you want but those in charge do as they see fit at the end of the day (but I agree that there isn't anything wrong with voicing your opinion anyway). Last decent team build from the start must have been 2006 & 07, probably due to Bratley/Andersen, and the latter half of 2013 when Sullivan shook it up. It has been a dog's dinner since the drop to the lower level unfortunately. I know not why! We usually end up realising where we went wrong before playing catch up but that may not be an option in 2018.

The viability report for Brandon has finally been published. Says Coventry Speedway made a loss every year but Companies House accounts suggest otherwise. Also claims Sandhu was offered the lease which I find very hard to believe. BE didn't want this public, I wonder why. Coventry Stadium - Viability NTS Document For Public Record.pdf

Nothing at all, I’m not happy but it won’t make a difference, support the side even if you dislike what’s happened, once it’s gone, what will you moan about then?

My take on it was Gavan maybe found it easier to tell people he didnt know and if that released a bit of stress and anxiety that has to be good for him. Does it matter what thread it was on Nah and people did support him which was very nice.Back to Poole 7/2 for the play/offs i thought they would be a shorter price on Woryna do people think he will average 7 points this year ? i believe he will and will average nearly 9 at home.???

I must admit im not overly familiar with the whole Brandon site, would it not be worth talking with the owners, and Council to see if modified plans could be drawn up, where both houses and a smaller basic stadium could be included, something similar to the Swindon proposals, keep the Track, but have a spectator area catering for about 2500.

It's easily sortable. If you are BRITISH then you are eligible. Irrespective of average. Keep the 6 top flight minimum to drop down to any NON Brits. Sorted.

Whoever suggested that doesn't have a clue.

I'm just about to leave Virgin - started cheap but has got rather expensive recently, and my internet connection is somewhat erratic at times Service is so-so so maybe move but move on as soon as the cheap introduction deal runs out

PROBABLY not if, as has been suggested, Hancock or Woffinden could ride in the CL but not Kennett or Nicholls.

Nicholls on the face of it is actually a poor signing. It’s not a question of IF he’ll drop his starting average, it’s a question of how much. I’d say around a point minimum. But having said that, I’m pretty sure Ged has a plan and there’s more than one way to skin a cat. Nicholls won’t be the only one to drop his average so I’m fully expecting a Kennett or another heat leader to replace a lower end rider after the first set of averages. Peterborough will then look a much better outfit and will challenge IMO. Will be interesting to see how much ground they’ll have to make up and if there’s time to do it with fewer fixtures. I wouldn’t rule them out though and like I’ve said before, trophies are handed out in October not March.

What we are seeing is last season's league champions made even stronger with the acquisition of Wright, Shanes and Smith. We were sorry to lose Josh G, but that will be more than compensated by more power at 6 & 7 and 3 genuine heat leaders any one of whom could finish the season at no. 1 (not to mention a captain who's in the habit of winning titles!)

Whilst there has been anecdotal reports of the 6 point rule being overturned to my knowledge this has not been confirmed officially. The Mafia have of course adopted a ploy to fail to report or make public any decision which has gone against them, indeed in one instance they opted to pre judge a situation which could cause embarrassment .One could be forgiven for wondering if this is all part of the Mafia's determination to get their pound of flesh regardless.

When did this forum turn into Dear Deidre Christ sake lets just get on and talk Poole speedway.

Not a panthers fan but why was the sign Scott Nichols at all costs the order of the day . He has been an exceptional speedway rider in his time there’s mmo doubting that but on a high average and his age I can’t see Scott going for the small gaps or big blasts round the outside . He will ride sensible and he won’t maintain his starting average , this then gave the panthers lower averages to play with the other 6 riders . Can see Peterborough in the bottom half of the table and how fickle there fans are can see it been a long season for the promotion

With the new ruling on starts we shouldn’t lose so much time. Should save at least 10 minutes a meeting.

Great to see a full team of riders and management all enjoying themselves ,having a good team sprit is a big thing for any winning team especially in Speedway

In a more sensible world people would be offended by the grotesque sugar content of the drinks being 'pushed' to kids. Rather than the young women who choose to parade around in their panties for a living harming no one.

The girls that do the job do it without pressure and it's their own choice. Do'gooders telling others they are offended. Tell them to clear off.