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Not all will agree with your last comment AO as some won't believe 'true fans' would ever miss a chance to see their team in action, but it is definitely true, as I do it now.. 'Iffy' weather has a huge bearing as you know deep in your heart that attending on a 'dodgy track' will often see you short changed from either the racing quality or simply the amount of races you get to see, (thirty times bitten, thirty one times shy). I find though at present that I miss more BV meetings to stay in and watch another match on TV, when the BV match has zero credibility due to it being another 'guestfest'... The irony is the match on TV has probably as much credibility as the one at the NSS however the difference is I am not forking out £30 for two people to attend it, instead paying BT £5.00 a month... Add in the fact that every meeting is now just a play off qualifier and for me it's not the TV being there that reduces the crowds (as proof, play off crowds are usually the best crowds of the year) it's the fact that what is served up doesn't justify paying out money to watch it when you can get your 'speedway fix' from the comfort of your armchair... Invariably now most matches are made up of an eclectic mix of competitors, from various random teams, cobbled together for 'one night only', so when you are prepared to take that for what it is, and are quite content to watch 'anyone' in the red, blue, white and yellow helmets go round, then you might as well do it in front of your TV, cold beverage in hand, snug in your own comfy armchair.... Simply, it's not TV coverage that reduces crowds, it's the way the Sport is ran...

Said by the same 'Poole' fans every season. Hence why we have laughed so hard the last few seasons.

Exposure on TV can help to remind the public that speedway exists and hopefully make them want to go and watch it live. Whether these are new or lapsed fans is immaterial, as long as they attend. Equally whether a viewer is a regular attendee at matches or just watches on TV is immaterial. They contribute to the viewing figures that keep the sport being televised. You could apply the above equally to sponsors. TV coverage to me is a superb bonus that allows me to watch matches that I could not otherwise attend and also maintains and feeds my love of the sport. I suspect I'm not alone. Are speedway supporters really only capable of watching one match a week? Only speedway with its limited, negative thinking, which does so very much to stifle it and destroys the opportunities I mentioned above, could blow it so consistently year in year out. All sports need TV, which is why they clamour for coverage. Well, all but one, it seems.

Phillips has proven that he can be amongst the points in the Championship, whereas the other 2 haven’t. Surely it’s a no brainer?!

Still don’t understand why the GSA issued regularly cannot show an average (assessed or amended if needed) for both leagues so enabling team managers, officials, referees and supporters easy access to one reference point.

The vast majority of professional football clubs in this Country run at a loss and that includes the big clubs! Iconic sports venues like Coventry speedway should have preservation orders put on them preventing them being demolished! The fact that their are parties who would take on the stadium and reopen it regardless of profit or loss margins speaks for itself. Anyway, has the Stadium been a burden on the Local or National tax payers? I'd suggest that the stadium has increased the local economy and gave a few jobs to locals! While I've got nothing against Mick Horton and appreciate that running a British speedway track in modern times isn't easy, Chris Harris' pretty damning assessment of him in this weeks speedway star says as much as you need to know about him!

Morris on a point less than Nicholls sounds like a pretty decent Plan B to me.

But you've got to be around to try. After the winter we've had I'm just happy we're still here. Team was clearly built on a) not knowing whether we'd have to pay the fine and b ) not attending the AGM and thus letting the others have a head start on team planning. Let's ride this year out & regroup next year. Also let's not forget the season we just had too, many other teams would have loved to have won one trophy let alone two.

to be fair restrictions on du/dd should be announced now for next season

You are definitely on the mend and the wind-up again. I am not jealous at all thanks very much, if you cant see that you have 4 riders on "false" averages then there is no hope for you. Yes - Matt has done his homework, yes it is within the rules but no - it doesn't make it right!

The whole world is fed up with BSPA

Swift action ? The AGM finished on 20th November 2017 . The SCB resolved the matter on 23rd Feb 2018. You seriously call that swift action? I'd call it appalling incompetence.

But it complies with the law. Were you also proposing that Nick Morris, Chris Harris, Danny King, Steve Worrall, Rory Schlein, Richard Lawson, Kyle Howarth and Charles Wright, all with PL averages >6 be stopped from riding CL, because that would at least have been fair? Yep, the discrimination was disgusting, hence the swift action from the SCB. In years gone by 1st Div averages were doubled when riders went to the 2nd division (halved if going the other way) and therefore it was impossible to go above 6 as that would make it over 12 in the 2nd div. The fact that riders who now ride in both demonstrate a much lower conversion is the reality says a lot about the strength of the leagues. Not long before an amalgamation I think as Mon/Weds will be financial ruin for some of the top division clubs.

The rider was signed before the news came about the sponsor

You really don't know a lot about Speedway do you.

...but not 'blindingly obvious' to those running the sport evidently!

Quite simply week after week it was broadcast in front of a minimal, atmosphere-less crowd.

Not if you end up with Peter York though

Ain't going on no plane

The lack of an answer to TV screening from either BT or BSPA suggests to me that negotiations are still ongoing. Personally I can't see the previous big money ever happening from either BT or Sky, if they ever do it again it will be vastly reduced to reflect the decline of our sport. I also think speedway is at such a low point the BSPA will grab any amount on offer in their desperation to survive. There are so many negatives surrounding speedway which urgently need addressing, and it will only begin to improve when Promoters actually start to promote again. Reducing the number of meetings will save money short term but will have a more detrimental effect when the hard core (lifeblood) supporters turn away. I really fail to understand why speedway is difficult to 'sell' - it's a fast, dangerous, colourful, noisy, and exciting team game which is family friendly and has all the ingredients to attract new faces. It's almost like a best kept secret and that doesn't help it survive - neither will increased entrance fees.

Normally when things go against them, where possible they make no comment at all.

Give them a little credit. Their press release after a total reversal of one of their policies is almost up to political party standard.

If only they meant what they are saying BSPA must be sucking lemons now.

Ged 3 - BSPA 0

Which is exactly what i said weeks ago, only to be shot down in flames by certain 'know all keyboard warriors' on here. Just proves that the people who tried to implement these 'rules' are incompetent...

As others have said Phillips is a much better bet. We want to see 7 potential race winners in the team ,not 6and a rookie.Sod's Law will say someone will get injured and then a non performing rookie is a liability.

Think it's more the case that Panthers don't make much money out of the fours, & Ged is fed up with the BSPA.

Yeah Kennett when he gets sacked

No he is not Morris like Thorssell is a slow burner and he is on par with Kurtz easily Morris more hardened and Fricke as a motorcyclist. ( ie Adams style wise is a cut above defo.I don't think Fricke takes the UK seriously he should do and ability wise he has everything a good racing brain lovely style he is capable of averaging 8.60 in the UK no problems but i do like all three of the Aussies Morris also can take more responsibility and improve.

Fricke has represented more clubs in Europe than Kurtz (Rybnik , Rospiggarna) Won Australian U21 title 4 times World U21 champion 2016 . I like Brady Kurtz, one of my favorite riders but in my opinion Max is the better prospect

Just this team called Leszno who happen to be the best in the world. Pretty good stamp. Also Fricke has been in the Elite league/Premiership for 2 more years than Kurtz.

I believe the easiest way for you would be to purchase an Android tv box with Kodi already loaded but if not you can download Kodi from the app store. It is good idea to purchase a good quality tv box which on e bay are between £50 and £60. On the Goldvod.TV website are the instructions how to download the "add on" as it is called which you do through the settings within Kodi.....the instructions were easy to follow but look a bit daunting. Once downloaded you will need to insert your user name and password and having already subscribed via the Goldvod.tv website all the Polish programs will become available for the duration of your subscription. A simple way would be to use a Chromecast device fitted to the HDMI on your TV and "cast" the image from your ipad onto the TV........the definition should still be the same. You can purchase a Chromecast device from PC World and if unsure they will tell you how to set up your ipad to cast the program that is playing i.e. nSport or Eleven Sport etc as you are now aware with your short term subscription the streaming picture from Goldvod.TV is excellent and it is full HD on a television which makes watching the live meeting a joy to watch.

Was it the green helmet, double points, six-lap nominated heats, riders on handicaps and going for double-points, that mole thingy Sky used to sort of mock us all (just remembered that), getting rid of Suzi Perry, then Sophie Blake? Seriously though, racing has been decent standard. But in Speedway, it isn't always about racing.

The powers that be have been very efficient with the one over 8 and GP rider rule, so it shows they can do it, though their motives seem highly suspicious. Saying it’s within the rules doesn’t cut it in our “sport” anymore due to their fluid nature. If/when Poole are allowed a 20 point head start I would still see fans saying it’s ok due to the rules. Its ironic that after years of rule breaking and dodgy deals, Ford is now feeling the pinch. You reap what you sow eh? Shame he’s taking everyone down with him but they can’t say they weren’t warned. Matt Ford. Self confessed cheat. Copyright Ouch 2004.

where it's got panthers ??? , its not helped them build a decent side has it ??? if you keeping 5h1tting on a doorstep you'll end up stepping in it , looking at panthers side they've stepped in a heap of it . so what's ged won out this battle ??? another upcoming season of uncertainty

No - you fool

You couldnt make it up!

How can it be that Morris is on a point less than Nicholls in the CL (for which Nicholls had no average) when Morris has a (much) better PL average. The rules continue to be a joke!!

Think you;re wrong there Sidney, Poole have this year assembled an exceptional side built on the back of 'out of date' Averages. If a team can acquire 1 ringer on a low average they are doing well, but to get 3 takes it to another level . All the teams were built to a max of 42.5 , But had Woryna, Schpank and Sundstrom been accredited with upto date figures, their team strength would have been nearer 46 Pts. Many are missing the point here where the advantages compound the differences. After the first set of figures , all the Poole riders, along with all the rest will be accredited with a new average, so any replacements needed will be proportionate to the average of the missing rider. so they will have better replacements whenever the need arise. Every year we have this same problem , and every year they do nothing to stop it. Its so annoying the BSPA cant see further than the end of their big noses.... So sorry Sidney, I cant agree with your views. The league will be a walk in the park for Poole losing only but a few matches, the only hope our sport has, is if another team meets them on a bad day.. Some hope.,,.

The reason for tv viewers varies. Some can only go to home meetings so watching an away meeting of their team on tv is great, how many from the South can or want to travel to BV on a mid week night. Some will watch home meetings on tv if the weather is iffy and or they have a long journey to the track. Some will watch on tv if the meeting is going to be one sided. The trouble with most clubs racing on the same night is that some of the fans will stay at home to watch a better meeting on the tv.

The GB Young Lions training camp held at the Isle Of Wight last week has been featured on TV! With thanks to That's Solent TV, we can bring you their media report that has been run on their channel for the last couple of days, and thank them once again for featuring our sport. Brought to you by That's Solent TV, Speedway Portal, GB Young Lions and Isle Of Wight Speedway. Apologies for the large embed

No. But this year it was because it was applied to riders of equal standing in a differing ways. It's easy. Apply the bloody rule or not. But do it to everyone.

Many, many thanks to Paul Ackroyd for the excellent work that he has put in over the years as Ben Fund Secretary. The amount of time and money that he has contributed to the sport is remarkable. Plenty of people have been given honours for less. Good luck in his new role as Chairman, and to the new Secretary Stephanie Babb.

Let's hope Kennett signs for Newcastle, to make them competitive, & then look forward to a lot of close, exciting speedway.

Its not so much whether the rule is right or wrong or good or bad , more the fact that less than a month before the start of the season the SCB/BSPA have only just sorted out what the rule is, and we apparently still don't have a rulebook, more than 3 months after the AGM.

AGREEMENT REACHED OVER NEW RULES BRITISH Speedway bosses have held top level talks to mutually agree interpretation of new 2018 regulations. Members of both the British Speedway Promoters’ Association Management Committee (BSPA) and Speedway Control Bureau (SCB) have worked together to ensure more opportunities for home grown riders are available. In simple terms this means the high profile case of Scott Nicholls has now reached a satisfactory conclusion for all parties and this fine servant to British Speedway is now eligible to race in the middle tier, the SGB Championship. After deliberation an agreement was reached allowing further opportunities for the use of "home grown" riders ensuring that in particular Championship teams will all have the opportunity to commence the season on competitive terms. Riders who have previously been eligible for the old Conference League, or the current National Development League, are now eligible for the Championship. A BSPA spokesman said: "We are pleased to be working alongside the SCB to clarify and reach agreement over this very delicate issue and it is now time for us all to look ahead to the new season with much enthusiasm." An SCB spokesman said: "The members of the Bureau fully appreciate the complex issues facing promoters at this moment in time. "We are fully committed to assisting them to re-establish a firm foundation for the sport from which to move forward."

Will they be the same as the 69th anniversary bibs? Found only in third and fourth and covered in Swindon shale?

Newcastle, surely 29.10 with 13.40 remaining.

Depends on exactly what he is prepared to do about it but it’s high time the BSPA were taken to task for some of the awful decisions they make. How on earth can it be right that riders like Morris, Cook, Masters, Schlein and Harris etc can ride Championship but Nicholls & Kennett cannot despite having Premiership Averages lower than the aforementioned. Either you stop riders with a Premiership Average in excess of 6.00 from riding Championship or scrap the rule entirely and allow all with the appropriate conversion.