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Until a major league sponsor invests enough money to take the sport forward, and insists that their investment is professionally run. It will continue to lurch from year to year. The failure to attract a major sponsor is the biggest failing of the powers that be and should be recognised as such

You won't get a major sponsor with such a Mickey Mouse operating model... Unless it's Disney.... Imagine Tesco sponsoring the Aces and they fail to qualify for the play offs by a point because Dan Bewley had the previous meeting scored a maximum for the Wolverhampton 'Sainsbury' Wolves in a victory for them. .? You simply won't get companies putting "big money" in when that can happen... There's a reason Poland runs its Speedway properly and that is they know if they don't then they too will struggle to attract crowds, media coverage and sponsors. . Several teams will contest the play offs next year, four will reach the two finals, two teams will win, and two teams will lose... And hardly anyone out of 67 million people in the UK will even notice, never mind care.... Yet they will, once again, persist with an operating model which clearly doesn't (and can never) work, if you ever want to move the sport forward... What we have is really all there is, and ever will be I would suggest, given the clear reluctance to implement the radical changes that the sport desperately needs if it is ever to be considered again as relevant and credible, within the UK's overall sporting hierarchy...

I think it should also be borne in mind that Craven was around at the same time as Fundin and Briggs - and Ronnie Moore come to that, but still managed to win the World Title twice. Hancock, on the other hand, didn't seem to fare so well when up against Rickardsson, Crump and Pedersen, who dominated the early 2000s. I would venture to say that all three of them were better than Hancock.

Brilliant effort from Glasgow with the announcement, additional exposure and donations for the charities is great. Good signing also.

Biggest error the management made was replacing Stewart Dickson with cami Brown. does cami have any input on team line ups ? But Glasgow do seem to sign older riders with supposedly bargain averages who fail to improve as age catches up with them.

And to think we have chosen George and another 6 pointer, when we could have had Archie and an 8 pointer. Oh well.

Patrick McGoohan wasn't it?

15 years ago that would have been a top Ekstraliga team

Simon out big Art in lol (Browning)

If only we sign Buczkowski instead of Ostergaard we could get Crump at reserve. Has an identical look about the 1-7 from the title winning side this year imo. 1. Michael Palm Toft 2. Krzysztof Buczkowski 3. Chris Harris 4. Scott Nicholls 5. Hans Andersen 6. Jason Crump 7. Jordan Palin

Have to agree with you. I'm pleased you mentioned Crump, as he certainly warrants consideration...

Not quite. Scaled it based on Leicester cycle speedway. DH won world championships on 3 different tracks. Worth noting the Lions circuit has been significantly altered since then hence the much improved racing now seen at Beaumont Park

What’s the arguments against then? Since they’ve taken control they’ve won a pairs event and a KO Cup by my reckoning? No doubt they’ve achieved great things as a club getting bit meetings to Ashfield and creating a great supporter experience but the results on the track have been disappointing.

Sorry I don't buy false average chat. That is the average he achieved with Plymouth over the season. The "false average" was the 12 pointer he had at start of season. Could he improve with an injury free season? Possibly a little, but not to a 10

you’re trying to convince yourselves now!

Spot on. Would imagine we'd get lots of positive PR and I'm sure the younger riders would benefit AND if he was signed as a second string could probably do a decent job.

I'd agree. Certainly a better business brain than messers Chapman and Godfrey. Came into Belle Vue at a very precarious time and has stabilised it, and made the club look more professional. He claimed to know nothing about the sport when he first came in, but he's respected the history and traditions of Belle Vue. Even staged meetings behind closed doors in 2020 to keep the unbroken record going. He hasn't changed the club colours and rebranded it The Manchester Machine. Sponsorship has grown steadily and they seem to run to a sustainable budget, despite running 2 teams. There hasn't been any question of running or not running the following year. I also like that he walks round the stadium during meetings talking with and listening to fans.

Would take that now.

For team manager only.

So we just roll over and die, it's time Speedway stood up for it's self, when people buy homes nears our stadiums. The law is there for everyone not just those with money and just now discrimination is high on the list.

The rule book is pretty official

https://youtu.be/vLY2F8uze0A the better than lego quote is from an Aussie sportsman being interviewed back in the 90’s - became a bit of a cult phrase Aussies have used when interviewed after winning sporting events - along with drinking champagne from their shoes. Believe doyle made the quote when he won the world title haha

Connor was a no-brainer. Outstanding linking with charity's, great idea Chas is a fantastic cause.

He has to share it with Havvy

And the most annoying

Brown was made assistant manager, two weeks later Stewart left. I don't think he minded just being TM, less stress is imagine and believe he was working for allied as well. Someone will know why he left but unfortunately it's not me

Despite Sam ermolenko marking out a proper racetrack I believe DH copied the cycle speedway track he won his world championship on. and the rest is history

Oh dear looks like it's gonna be a wobbly inside line. Especially if you have drowned your toon sorrows

Every team has to deal with injuries. Glasgow have underachieved since the Facennas came in. It’s hard to argue differently.

I’m wondering if crump would be in the team this year as he must be on the same sort of average as R Worral

Might be busy assisting track work at Birmingham, if they run.

You are on the wind up or seriously not well with your comment about the current owners.

I agree with you tbh.

So does Bjerre and Palin. Jorden would score a lot more points riding Belle vue every week than round Peterborough more pennies, and Brennan would score more in away meetings good mix. You never know. Ipswich had Rowe and kemp last season and its said that Wolves have Flint and kemp next year. Fricke, Batchelor, Bjerre, Wright, Kurtz. As the top five . We need a team that can ride the NSS well. If we get to the playoffs we need a team that can win big at home and give us a chance of a good lead for the away leg.I think said team would do that. It is silly season but you never know .

Different scenario Crump was out the sport for a number of years just don’t see it being a progressive signing.

Theres only one true Dads Army speedway team, any spin off fakes are subject to trading standards investigations.

i just dropped a bike off for him to practice yesterday ;-))

IF (and huge if) he is to sign it can only be for commercial reasons

No time marra got to be up at 5 to work in a local engineering company then home to do housework etc as my wife's disabled so very little time to put me feet up, but find time later on to do lots of fishing on this forum, you be surprised to how many big catches I get up the toon you need to start winning or you will be going down. Enjoy if that's the phrase watching the toon

Vans are usually leased due to high mileage, hence new every year as it costs the same. Not many riders in UK even use the 2 helmets a meeting they'd need. Emil's would all be sponsored.

Forums are about opinions and everyone has a view as to who has the best team before a wheel has been turned. I am not sure everyone thought Poole would win the league.

What a brilliant team Plymouth have put together. Well done all concerned. Got to be one of the favourites for the league.

I would suggest Phil Morris to perhaps be that person. Former rider and shrewd business owner and holds a regular job in speedway at the highest level.

Showing 7.38 here. Josh Pickering - gbspeedway.com

Probably not an unrealistic figure but Lawson will be including engine wear and tear, clutch parts and then the cost of the 2/3 bikes he was running spread over the season. Thers a hefty amount of start up costs involved (rightly or wrongly).

In my (humble) opinion the ONLY individual I would entrust to running this sport would be ADRIAN SMITH who is at B.Vue. Smart of mind, intelligent, erudite, has business acumen, impressive when dealing with possible major sponsors,TV, media...great qualities which currently very sadly lacking.

You’re too kind!

Thought he was a snicker lol

Knowing the averages allows fans to make educated guesses on who will be in teams, not knowing the averages makes it less fun as you don't know if your "dream team" is legal!

Great arcticle by Liam Waite in the News and Star this morning, even made the front page headline. https://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/19724272.workington-speedway-legend-steve-lawson-plans-return-sport-town/