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It's probably easier to get from and back to Rawicz than it is trying to navigate the British motorway network after 10pm in 2024!

Total disrespect hahahah come off it. It’s still the close season. As long as there’s 7 riders at the tapes on Good Friday, which I’m certain there will be, then that’s fine. Talk about toys out of the pram, grow up.

It's not a complaint. Every sport needs characters like his... I'm just not a fan of characters like his... He's not taking this press conference seriously at all (the video where they're all stood in a line on the back row of the stand, he's the only one who didn't look at the camera, he decided it was more important to be talking to the rider next to him instead) it makes all the hard work that everyone put into this event look worse off and it's a little disrespectful honestly... Haven't liked him for years, his attitude stinks and everyone loves to blow smoke up his arse which makes it worse!!

And Tai's good point, about what gets the most views, is lost because of his delivery. We all know all the key promoters of the past encouraged their riders to put on a show, to encourage apparent controversy. However, in my view, his inability to hardly speak a sentence without swearing has become the talking point - rather than the launch of the season in a more professional way.

I've always liked Tai up until a few years ago.He does try to up the profile of speedway.But why does he have to constantly swear at an event like this when,as Phil Morris said they are trying to make it look more professional here.The actual swearing doesn't bother me,i just worry about the impression it may give out to today's generation of people.I understand a few slips of the tongue from a few Poles or other nationalities where English isn't their first language. I have really enjoyed this press conference though.

Eddie k ??

should go towards a basic literacy programme

Well done to Phil and the team. Whilst not perfect massive step in the right direction for the sport in this country long may it continue. All the best to all teams through out the season especially the Loins.

Yes, we are talking about him when the idea was to launch the British season in a new and professional way. How many media outlets or sponsors would now be able to use that content? None I suspect.

Perhaps if there is another broadcast live conference and also when being interviewed during live streamed meetings riders should be told beforehand to moderate their language, surely they can discuss/make comments without the swearing then they would come across as more professional.

I can smell that bulls**t from here!! You have proved over and over you know nothing

Did you see the ?symbol at the end of Najjer's post? Perhaps it would be an idea if you checked out its meaning.

The truth is no one will ever know. I have confidence that Phil Morris is in charge and every faith that the money generated will be used in the best way from his point of view. If a certain percentage is filtered down to the clubs which I’m sure it will, then it’s anyones guess. I’d like to think that Phil would put a number of caveats in on how that money is spent by the clubs so it’s not wasted or pocketed.

Unfortunately Tai is the last person you would want to front the sport where a professional and polished approach is required . An individual whose command of English does seem limited and apart from his skills of riding a speedway machine, he does nothing to raise profile of the sport and when it comes to U K speedway wanting a professional sports person to represent the sport he falls well short of acceptable standards and behaviour. He has let so many people down with his cavalier attitude. Can you imagine him on Sports Personality of the Year? God help speedway. He single handedly could do more harm to the sport in this country with his public image and that is saying something. Unfortunately no one will stand up to him and tell it as it is.

Have they? I assume you are talking about Nicholls for Pawlicki and as far as I'm aware he's a temporary signing.

Well, I suspect most of us were taken to speedway by a parent or adult when we were not old enough to go on our own to start with. I'd suggest that is a fairly big market that Oxford, for example, have been very high profile about targeting, and where swearing will not be prevalent. Would any other youth or older potential supporters who may well swear themselves have been put off if the press conference hadn't involved swearing? I doubt it The sport is trying to relaunch its self over here, to be more professional, to appeal to the media and to gain more sponsors. On balance I suspect the number put off by a top rider swearing regularly on camera will exceed those who are attracted. If not, why don't the stars of all sports swear on camera as a matter of course?

And how dreadful was he ! Like a 5 year old making up stupid nick-names for the riders !

I thought it was a bit strange when I first heard that Doyley wasn't going to be there. I'm not a huge fan of him but have a massive amount of respect for him. He always shows up and gives his all and has always stuck by speedway in this country. His wife going into labour is a perfectly reasonable reason not to be there however, and I would like to congratulate him and his wife Tai Woffinden's comment of the rest of the league looks like they're gonna go have fun but no one is better than Sheffield so they're gonna win it again... Wow right in front of everyone. He's not got much respect has he. Hopefully every single number 1 and 5 in the league comes and batters him every week.....

They are doing..... "Who's behind the mask?"... Doyley is dressed as Chase the Ace.... Jonathan Ross just said it was Ed Sheeran.... "Take it off! Take it off!" Etc etc etc... Great to see some innovation and professionalism from Phil Morris... Doing a lot of good so far with what his plans are.. I presume he must come on here quite a bit...

As much as a lot of people criticise Dick and his centre green shenanigans, I guarantee you will miss him when he does hang up his microphone. I remember when he was missing for a season a handful of years ago and I certainly felt that the presentation on the evening was far poorer due to the lack of his presence.

Not sure, hopefully they are, but, whilst all sponsorship is so important, much of what UK Speedway get is within the Speedway Bubble, ie. Businesses that already benefit tangibly by being involved who maybe then widen their sponsorship.. The big leap is to bring "new" money into the sport which can be used to drive the sport forwards.. The use of guests though will always preclude this as "Company A" would never invest in a club to then see a competitive rival's name in lights after that team wins the league, having used "Company A's" riders during the season to do so... And when "Mickey Mouse" is involved, like last years play offs with Bomber, finding a "BIG" non speedway involved company to sponsor the league outright will be a hard sell... The chicken and the egg isn't it? To run a "proper team sport" you need the money to do it... But. If you don't run a "proper team sport", you will never get the money to do it.. I am pretty sure Phil Morris will acutely know this, and, hopefully, will have plans to deliver that utopian position over the next few years at most.. He is definitely travelling in the right direction I would suggest, given what he has done so far...

I certainly hope all the fears are unfounded as the promotion have put heart and soul into this venture and made a damn good job of it up to now. What ever happens it wont be through lack of trying on their part.Lets hope.

Great News - People investing in British Speedway - Lets hope some Whopper Sponsor/s are encouraged to come on board now for Premiership League and for clubs. This is in my view is how the sport can thrive again. Its about the money. If Premiership continues to be rebuilt and we have 10 + teams in it doing well then success can follow on its coat tails for lower league/s too and snowball from there. This is the Polish model and Ekstraliga. Where was that 30 years ago ? They built that to a super league and rest history. Speedway now a top sport in Poland with massive sponsorship. Phil Morris is making a difference and steering in right direction.

Craig is a West Cumbrian lad who has shown over the years what a good Speedway rider he is. Local fans want him to do well for the promotion who have given him the chance when maybe most promotions wouldn't have, for the team because he has a big part to play in advising the young and new riders, and for himself . Personally I hope to see him fit and ready for the new season at P&P on Saturday, Andrew and Steve deserve nothing less.

Go watch lawn bowls I think. It is speedway....not an interview for a place at Eton College. Sport in general, including speedway needs to lose the utter nonsense that restricts characters due to them being polished robots to suit the corporate image of some brand sponsor. We need characters like the days of James Hunt, Barry Sheene etc etc. Sport should be breathing space from all the corporate crap that is forced down our neck every day. Well done Tai Woffinden...more swearing please and stay real mate.

coming down from Yorkshire tomorrow for the match. Is there a decent food option at the stadium, or are we better eating elswhere first? Thanks in Advance Trevor

Oh how the mighty have fallen 1st post on here for over a month

Tai clearly has a very limited range of vocabulary to call on and expletives are a fundamental part of his rudimentary language skills. I’m not sure he has the ability to behave much differently.

Totally agree.We love handbags,fisticuffs and controversy during an adrenaline filled meeting.When the adrenaline is running you can accept all this and a bit of swearing.But when you are in the environment they were in today i don't think there was any need for the language used by Woffinden.

Surley its about time the promotion give some type of feedback to the fans as to what is happening and what avenues there going down? I know they can't wave magic wand an get a rider but an update as to what there trying would be the least they could do. Total disrespect to the paying public, its getting silly now

Personally the swearing did not bother me but imagine if this was a Football, Cricket or Rugby Union media day, I get Tai has a outgoing personality and given this maybe Phil Morris should have had a word with the riders beforehand to highlight that this is going out live.

Nope.

This. I listened to Darren Fletcher (who I remember used to watch Long Eaton) and Phil Morris and then they handed to the gobsh1te, and I had to turn off after a couple of minutes of his arrogance. I knew then he was going to get worse, and reading your comments, that is what happened. Credit where it is due, the event/day is a brilliant step forward and well done Phil for making it a reality. I am sure next seasons will be even better and even more professional. I have hosted events, and I feel ours got better every year because we always tried to learn from what didn't quite work.

Spot on!

Personally, I couldn't agree with you more, but... they do say any publicity is good publicity, rightly or wrongly. It was even mentioned during the conference, actually in Woffy's F bomb outburst bit, that the Emil/Nicholls handbags was the most viewed Speedway content online. People often say, do the talking on the track, but as Woffy doesn't seem to be able to do this anymore, he has to resort to more and more extreme tactics to gain some attention, don't forget he attacked a fan last year, shame he couldn't follow that up with a profound announcement like "When seagulls follow the trawler it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea"

Yes we are talking about him,but it is the existing fans that are doing this.Will this sort of behaviour encourage the next generation which is what he should be encouraging to come?

I can't wait. Most exciting part of the off season. Watching who's winding who up

While it's a very good turn out, it's disappointing after it was announced EVERY rider would be there. Perhaps they should have announced beforehand that every team would have a rider present, then shock us all when at least 5 from every team turned up?

Only the HLs haven't. The rest would have been to Oxford last couple of years in the Championship. The Holder's have watched it at Oxford though when helping Zach occasionally in 2022.

Hope Plymouth can pull the rabbit out the hat with a strong replacement, it’s the least the fans deserve. Best travelling fans I saw at Glasgow by a distance.

Take it from me there is no issues with Craig Cook he is in the zone no problems he will be there on the 23rd press day

Allways thought his monkey talked more sense

Is Crescent Girl sorry Dick doing the Centre Green this season. Just so as I know wether to take my ear pods, no offence Dick

Looking forward to my first meeting of 2024 since the Kyle Howarth testimonal was postponed. Expecting a Witches win but Belle Vue took victory both times last year and in Brady Kurtz they do have a rider who can and will pop out of the start and stay there so no room for complacency!! Wishing good seasons and injury free for all in 2024!

Without knowing the detail of what really went wrong, I say that his only mistake was not paying closer attention to the history of who he was dealing with and not getting a contract in writing and signed first before playing the social media game.

I thought it was the best article that I have ever read on a topic of this nature. It really drew you into the ordeal that a rider goes through, so much so the reader is 'suffering along with the rider'.

Agreed. We have to remember that promoters lose money by calling a meeting off. I forget exactly how the system works but Jon Cooke used to say that once you get to a certain point the losses run into several thousand pounds so that money is saved by earlier call offs. Cooke used to have about 3 or4 weather forecasts from different sources before calling a meeting off. It’s a difficult decision for promoters and they sometimes get it wrong. A pain for the fans when meetings get called off, but when the sport is being run on a shoestring anyway it hits them hard in the pocket if meetings are called off too late.

I would think most punters would think is was a joke if you never called a meeting off because of a bad forcast ... its just common sense

I think we all understant that is a possibility, & as the latest update states the group have"considered their strategy under every likely circumstance". However you view the situation there can be no doubt that the group have performed a minor miracle getting us this far, with huge support from the council, MP's , the residents of the local area, &supporters from UK and futher afield and deserve massive credit for what has been achieved to date.

Not convinced at all, unfortunately. The cynic in me thinks it will benefit them in some way, with regards to knocking down the old stadium.