Halifaxtiger

Its a matter of ambition. I suspect It would be the aim of every club in existence to go as high as they can in the world of speedway, and some are prepared to accept substantial losses in doing so (for right or wrong). My own view is that Glasgow are at least partly the architects of their own situation. If you pay huge amounts of money to riders - as they by all accounts do - and don't attract the attendances and sponsorship to pay for them, you can only expect thumping losses.

Almost certainly not, although that maybe a long term aim (they aim high). Yet another remarkable thing about IOW is that it is run as a business, which means that it has to at the very least have sustainable losses.

He was brilliant that night. Paid 14 from 5 starts at Scunthorpe for Ipswich, though, was the most impressive performance I saw anywhere last season.

I think that's what's annoyed me a bit. There's a lot to be critical of where speedway is concerned but the colours of those who simply want to put the boot in have been shown all too clearly here. Buster Chapman has saved a team, a league and a TV contract and backed his actions and judgement with his own money. Surely that is a matter for credit rather than criticism and negative comment ?

You're right - at least about Eastbourne - and that's why I am surprised about them potentially going up. Kent get bigger gates, have a better stadium, have applied for changes to their planning permission and a Championship club not a million miles away has closed down

I think its a question of both, because what people want is usually what's best for them. Clearly, the clubs think a 3 league structure is best. I very much take your point about the play off system. Phil the Ace made an excellent suggestion that the team that finishes top go straight into the final with the next two having a semi final, thus narrowing it to three teams instead of four. I don't have a problem with Buster Chapman having controlling interest in 3 clubs, especially as Ged Rathbone & Chris Louis will still be involved. Multi track bosses are hardly unheard of - Mike Parker and Reg Fearman springing to mind. Its also a question of what the alternative to retaining the Premiership was. You have mentioned amalgamation, but I think the top teams feared further loss of attendances and the weaker Championship ones trying to cope financially with the likes of Poole, Belle Vue & Wolverhampton. Furthermore, there was the question of the number of fixtures - based upon present number of clubs, there would have been 18 home and away to fit in - and the number of riders given the ridiculous number doubling up. Personally speaking, I think they have got it right.

Beat you by one

Have to agree with Teaboy. There must be at the very least some serious interest in moving up for the BSPA to announce it. No doubt its a major financial gamble but I can't believe the two clubs haven't considered that.

I think the thing is they are strongly rumoured to be going up. There's no rumours about Doyle & Buxton to my knowledge. Its anything but unheard of in such circumstances to make a statement denying rumours, or clarifying why they aren't seeking to make changes. Truth is, I have heard it is Eastbourne but that doesn't make it any less surprising to me.

Presumably that is this one : The following statement has been authorised by Eastbourne Speedway Club chairman, Martin Dugard. “Forman IT Eagles are aware of the Speedway Control Bureau indication that two National League Development clubs will be moving to the Championship League in 2019. “We will be issuing a full, detailed statement about our intentions for 2019 by the end of next week." Does it say they are moving up ?

I'll be surprised if its Eastbourne because Martin Dugard has been complaining about attendances at NL level. With Lakeside closing and Kent requesting changes to planning permission so they can ride on a day other than a Monday, I think it might be them.

They have certainly asked for a change to their present planning permission. https://pa.midkent.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=PF1IT2TYMVN00 Some of the objectors seem to believe there will be speedway 6 nights a week...……….

I am fairly sure at least some of the Premiership ones didn't either.

Yes, they do. They are usually biased, though. In my experience, its better than you have stated but I can say that in a straight comparison between Premiership and NL racing at the NSS the former is far superior (although the NL racing is definitely better than Premiership or Championship at other tracks).

https://pa.midkent.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=PF1IT2TYMVN00 Hmm...………..once a week with additional time on Fridays and Saturdays Its interesting reading some of the objections - they seem to believe there will be speedway 6 days a week

You're right and it just goes to prove that for some the BSPA are wrong what ever they do, period. To me, that just shows how viciously biased some are. There's lots to criticise about the sport but heaven's sake lets keep it balanced and give credit where its due.

Part of my point here is that there are some who can't wait to stick the boot in, no matter what. If Peterborough had closed and the Premiership disbanded they would have taken great delight in blaming Chapman for that. I don't think its just the clubs that owe him a debt, its speedway as a whole. He has been much maligned over the past year or so and some it was fully justified, but I really don't see how anyone connected with the sport can give him anything but praise and credit where this is concerned - money where his mouth is comes very much to mind. As to integrity, I think speedway (again as a whole) lost that some time ago.

If two of the other clubs(or maybe even just one) had pulled out, the Premiership would have folded no matter what Chapman did. It isn't just down to him. However, it is down to him buying into Peterborough & Ipswich that the Premiership is able to continue in 2019. It is typical of the attitude of some members of this forum that a man saving not just a team but an entire league can be twisted into something suitable for negative comment. Its little wonder that the forum itself is often regarded as utterly without credibility.

None that I know of. Indeed, its possible that tracks will close if it is that low, as there is a belief that people won't pay to watch little more than a training session. I really don't see why the NL should be forced to do something that the majority of its members simply don't want, whatever that may be. They should be left alone to decide their own destiny.

Even if that is accepted, it doesn't mean by a long chalk that speedway is under the control of one man. You overlook the fact that without him the Premiership probably would have closed down.

Nonsense. He doesn't even have a majority in the top flight and there are (at present) 20 other clubs.

Absolutely delighted for you and all the other Comets diehards, brilliant news.

I'm impressed that there are more clubs in the top two flights in 2019 than there were in 2018. How many of us thought that would be the case ?

If it is, the NL in its present form is finished.

Is it the case that they have said that if there is no buyer the track will close ? Or will they carry on anyway ?