Halifaxtiger

I think that the Warriors were banking on a 40 point limit and bringing Kelsey Dugard back. When the points limit changed, it left them rather high and dry and fitting in as best they can and, in that, they aren't alone. Kent admitted they were making the team up to 40 points and have had to have a radical rethink and others are having trouble with their final placings. Its difficult to disagree with your view on Mullins. Given his record, it seems to me this was a case of just getting someone in to make the team up and not being particularly choosy about it.

Its not my intention to paint them as 'good guys', just as blameless for the shoddy construction. Having said that, in my view David Gordon & Chris Morton soldiered on for years as Kirky Lane believing that NSS would be built and in the hope that a move to a new stadium would attract increased attendances and wipe out running debts. You only have to read the pages of this forum to know that many were sceptical, contemptuous and dismissive and it is my understanding that a few within the BSPA were too. The stadium was built, and that is at least partly down to them. It would be speculation indeed to suggest that if the stadium had been completed as planned (no issues with track, proper terracing and toilets) Belle Vue would have survived unscathed but the way I see it the Peter Craven meeting and the fact that the track was not fit for purpose for several weeks was the straw that broke Morton & Gordon's back.

True, but for the last 3 pages we have had people saying that 'reliable' sources had indicated that the riders were free to find other clubs. That's not the case. The other thing is there isn't any more he can say and at least he has updated everyone. Lets give Mick Horton a bit of credit for responding to rumour, surmise and the requests for more information.

Its easy to criticise but far more difficult to actually name alternatives, particularly those who are prepared to travel to the Island. Mark Phillips has said elsewhere that naming the final rider or two is the most difficult, and he's right.

I was there. Cracking meeting............but nowhere near as good as Scunny v Edinburgh. That was just amazing.

I can make Sundays but I prefer Friday nights, too (although Sundays means I can do Belle Vue as well, rather than having to choose). Thing is Rob Godfrey made it clear why he switched and I couldn't argue with his reasoning. One thing is certainly true : the quality of the speedway at the best racing track in the country didn't deteriorate one iota.

Perhaps it was a good thing that you weren't able to 'keep up'. The issue of that statement by Mick Horton after the complaints on here doesn't seem to be a coincidence to me and those complaints have achieved more than constant contact by the local rag.

I think you're right in that some sort of statement could easily be made. However, he could equally easily say that Coventry won't be operating this (or any future) season. He hasn't done that, either. Given that it was his workmen that did all the damage at the stadium and rendered it not fit for purpose - and anyone who actually believes that that was simply to retrieve assets needs to explain how ripping all the seats out, breaking them up and then dumping them in a skip is retrieving assets - I think it is down to Sandhu.

I'd say its pretty clear that Belle Vue didn't have inspection rights. There's no way the council would have settled a counter claim if they had. I'd also say that you are right when you state you would very much want to have such rights if your business was greatly affected by the quality of the construction. I conclude, then, that the council refused to allow Belle Vue any part in construction other than the design. What to do in those circumstances ? Fold the team ? Unthinkable. Stay at Kirky Lane permanently ? Unthinkable, given that David Gordon had said many times that there was no future there. Temporary residency at Kirky Lane, to me, is simply not an option. For a start, Belle Vue were constantly assured by the council that the stadium would be ready on time and fit for purpose and until a few weeks before that, had no reason to disbelieve them (lets not forget that the practice session was a huge success). Notice to quit Kirky Lane must have been given months before hand and as the GRA are often no friends of speedway I can just imagine how much a week to week contract would have cost. I can also imagine how it would have looked if Gordon and Morton had agreed to a cover arrangement that would have cost a huge amount totally unnecessarily especially given that the club was cash strapped before they moved. Its easy to be wise with hindsight, but in their shoes I would have done exactly what Gordon and Morton did in moving to NSS. Its why I think any suggestion that laying any responsibility for the shoddy construction at the feet of Gordon & Morton is entirely unreasonable. What they are at least partly responsible for, however, is the existence of a world class stadium with a world class track like none other in Britain. You can say that it doesn't matter where the blame lies, and in the end you are right. But there is a great deal of interest in the story of what happened. I'd be surprised if there is any speedway fan who couldn't care less about the near loss of not just speedway's fantastic new stadium but also of the most famous name in world speedway, Belle Vue Aces.

And yet if Coventry do pull through there will be more stand alone teams this season than there were 30 years ago . Coventry's potential demise is made all the harder to take because it is very little to do with the number of people paying at the turnstiles.

A tad harsh but you have a point, and the sadness is Speedy Star hasn't always been that way. I can remember them giving Bruce Penhall a real bashing in print when he demanded an extra fee to ride in the test series a few years back, and its an opinion that John Berry shared : 'In Philip's hands the Star suddenly gained teeth. No tip-toeing a middle course for him. The magazine was always running one crusade or another..........and it was good to see the paper having a position on things'. ​From Confessions of a Speedway Promoter.

If he can pass Matt Williamson at Belle Vue, his equipment can't have been that bad.

I agree. Big performances at Coventry and Belle Vue but he never got near Smith & Parkinson-Blackburn at Smallbrook. All of those were at reserve and its a fair jump to heat leader.

Isle of Wight's £12, £9 & children under 16 free is better. Thing is Plymouth haven't offered a concessionary rate and I have known people to refuse to go for that reason alone. Bizarre but true. £2 isn't going to stop an adult, £10 for two teenage sons might. Thing is that's no different to PL or EL racing - value for money doesn't just apply to the NL. NL racing can be as good as anything served up by the other leagues and its far more about the track than the riders. I see no reason why the high standard of racing I have seen at Purfleet will change. NL programmes are usually cheaper but I am not quite sure why that is the case. They all do pretty much the same thing regardless of what standard the team is. Birmingham and Eastbourne have made a very successful transition to NL racing, with attendances at Alexander Stadium apparently higher than they were at EL level. No reason why Lakeside can't do the same in future seasons, their late entry handicapping them a bit for 2017.

I think Phil is absolutely right to postpone publication - even indefinitely - if he believes that in revealing what he knows it may endanger - even to a slight degree - the possibility of Belle Vue Speedway being in existence. I'd very much like to know the full story but not at the cost of losing the team.

I am not sure that's true. The possible Belle Vue Colts team is Bewley, Bickley, Shuttleworth, Smith, Payne, Woodhall and Woodhall. 5 brilliant young riders and 3 15 year olds, including the current British champion. That is a quite remarkable mix of youth and talent that is far more likely to attract paying fans than other line ups. £15 for NL racing would be ridiculous. Plymouth are doing it for £10.Should be £12 adults, £10 concessions, under 16's free with accompanying adult. Quite agree. I really don't see how Sunday evenings (even early evenings) work. Saturday night or Sunday afternoon (or both) depending on other users.

There is absolutely no reason at all why any management should respond with abuse, aggression, hostility or any such reaction in the face of supporter criticism, even if that criticism is most unfair (and, in my experience, most of it isn't). What that will do is simply make matters worse and drive more people away. The answer is to engage, listen, take note, respond as truthfully and favourably as possible, change if you can and above all treat this person as a customer that you want to return again and again and again. What you have said there is that a promotion do not have to make an effort with the team, the track, the stadium or public relations and people should still go however bad things might be. It is absolutely untrue that crap speedway is better than no speedway at all and that if a speedway track closes down that it is all the fault of those who fail to attend. The duty is on the promotion to put on something that persuades people to part with their money and give it everything they can in an attempt to do so. If they then fail, they can at least have the satisfaction of knowing they have done their best. Anything else, and the primary blame for closure lies with the promotion.

I think the thing is its not going to persuade them to go at a time when Lakeside unquestionably needed that and you only have to see the pages of this thread to know that you are in a minority regarding riders at NL level. Morley & Wajtknecht excellent signings, Mason anything but. You are very wrong about people not watching riders at this level just for the rider. There was a real (and not unfair) reaction when, for example, Dan Bewley didn't go to Mildenhall last season.

My pension would probably cover the starting gate I may be being uncharacteristically optimistic, but I have no doubt both the Aces and the Colts will run this season.

Nothing to report is in fact something to report. The way things have been at Coventry he could have seen pretty much anything. 'Assume' is precisely the right word. Isn't assumption the mother of screw up ? Steve has told us what he saw and I really don't see that as a matter for criticism or ridicule.

If the team named by Phil the Ace is to be the Colts side this season, it will one of the most exciting and attractive line ups I have ever seen anywhere. 5 of our best young riders, three 15 year olds and average age under 20. I'd seriously consider buying a Colts season ticket to watch that.

It would be pure speculation to suggest Stoneman, Smith or Hopwood. All would have been better. Those being critical have a point - signing Mason, purely in terms of attracting fans, is a disaster. A 40 year old gater with a 6 point average is not what you need and will actively discourage people from attending at a point when the fall from EL to NL will undoubtedly have some thinking (for right or wrong) about it anyway. It contrasts spectacularly with the reaction of Mildenhall supporters to the signing of Armstrong. The difference being that Armstrong is of true heat leader standard, is likely to improve his starting average, is anything but a gater and is well known for his willingness to assist other members of the team. That is precisely what an NL side and its fans want from a senior rider and Mason has none of them.

In terms of the promotion of the club, Eastbourne aren't anywhere near Isle of Wight's league..............then again, there aren't many who are.

There are currently 61 riders who have been named and just 7 have 5 or 6 point averages. It means that most teams are composed of 7, 8 or 9 point heat leaders backed up by 3 or 4 points seconds and reserves. Mildenhall might be a bit more than most but they're not that different. I think they are relying on Jenkins to bang some high scores in (and I have little doubt he will) but to suggest that all they have is him and their top 3 would be very wrong. Woods, Verge and Ruddick will all do their bit even when Jenkins moves up. What Mildenhall have done is very shrewdly fit the remainder of their side around their top 3 and young Jordan. I can't see how they might have made a better job of it. Only saw him once last season - at King's Lynn for the Ben Fund meeting - and I was standing with his then Tiger Cubs team manager, Phil Kirk. Having watch him go from third to first (or last to second, I am not sure which) I commented that that was highly unusual at that stage of his career and that I was very impressed indeed.

How about an Easter triangle with Kent thrown in ? Meetings Saturday, Sunday & Monday or one on Sunday and two on Monday.