Aces51

What did he say. I assume he gave you all the details.😂

It's not a new idea. We lost Bjerre after the deadline in 2005 and couldn't replace him for the play offs. Top of the league table but we lost to Coventry in the final.

It is a shame for Zach, I have been impressed from what I've seen of him. However, there's always the "in the best interests of the sport" get out clause the BSPA can use if so inclined to give you more time but Clegg seems the best available option so could be signed today.

For the first 40 years for a meeting to be cancelled it had to be torrential rain or the track so flooded that it couldn't be pumped away in time. However, as they say these days, we are where we are and covers are now a necessity. We are told that part of the agreement with our new owners is that the Council will provide covers in time for next season. We shall see.

It's good to see you have a sense of humour. It tells me much about your bias if you really cannot see that it is entirely relevant to refer to Woffinden's attitude to Team GB where he has clearly shown there that he was willing to ride for GB in the World Games because it suited him, just as he was prepared to ride for Wolves simply because his commitments abroad were running out. He used UK speedway in 2016 and wanted to use Team GB this year. As for Crump, he came back on an average of about 11, so no advantage to be gained there, he had ridden in the UK for many years, much longer than Woffinden but he isn't British and was at an age when he didn't think he could maintain his form without reducing his commitments. We were bottom of the league and he helped us out because he was asked to do so. Woffinden saw his commitments abroad were running out and despite his previous comments about UK tracks apparently approached Belle Vue for a place but was turned away and then signed for Wolves. There are considerable difference in the two cases and I saw nothing wrong when Crump joined us. We weren't in contention for anything, we weren't being used, he came on an average that properly reflected his ability and the only benefit was to keep some extra fans for a few meetings.

The fact that Woffinden had a poor season doesn't entitle you to get him back on that average. It happens all of the time. We had Bjerre in 2006, an asset who had a very poor season recovering from his injury in 2005. We persevered with him the whole season and then he signed for Peterborough in 2007. I remember fans complaining that he left after the club has stood by him but I don't recall anyone saying we were entitled to benefit from his likely improved performance in 2007. My view is that riders who are not racing in the UK should come back on an average based on their current form in whichever foreign leagues they are riding. It is relatively easy to agree a conversion factor for each foreign league. As for Tungate, Somerset sacked him, they can hardly complain or feel aggrieved if another club decide to take a chance and sign him. Woffinden seems to want everything to revolve around him but it does seem to somewhat destroy his credibility to refuse to ride in the SWC until they do this his way but then want to ride in the World Games, which just happens to be at his Polish home track. I think it true that no rider can be bigger than the team. If he wants to change things he has to do it by example and persuasion from within the team. In any event I am far from convinced that being an exceptional rider necessarily means that you have the ability to teach others or that what works for you will work for everyone. It's a shame you feel it necessary to be so childish.

My principles are clear, it's those who cannot see that British speedway was being used who need to consider if they are being blinded by bias it other factors. Tungate may improve his average further or he may not, that is a matter of conjecture but it was you who claimed his average was way below his actual level and so far the facts do not support you. However, in truth the real considerations are those that existed at the time the signings were made because that is what we are discussing, not how they did or, in Tungate's case might, turn out. I doubt you will find many who did not think that Woffinden was a far better rider in 2016 than his 7.03 average, look at the comments on here at the time and equally, that Tungate was better than his average, although I think the weight of opinion in his case was less certain. That is why I was concerned about the moral point. I see the situation with Woffinden riding in the World Games in the same light. He just wants to use Team GB, as he did with Wolves, when it suits him and I strongly agree with Rossiter's decision not to pick him.

There are all sorts of factors you can take into account if you really want to analyse those statistics. Woffinden had 10 matches, whereas Tungate had only 5, so Woffinden's figures more likely to be an accurate reflection of his performance. Also, because he has had far fewer meetings Tungate's average is significantly inflated by one meeting, his 13 points last Monday against Wolverhampton. His average for his 4 other meetings is only 0.32 higher than his Somerset average. However, contrary to BWitcher's claim, what the statistics do show is the Woffinden did perform significantly above his starting average.

You say the significant difference is that Tungate's average was way below his ability whereas Woffinden's wasn't, proved by his performance. From a rough and ready calculation for all matches since their respective signings Woffinden averaged 1.31 more than his pre-signing average of 7.03 and Tungate 1.32 more than his, which doesn't seem to support your argument. As regards the moral question some may not understand it or think it relevant but that comes down to your personal principles. Clearly the BSPA and SCB thought there was a need to change the rules to try to prevent a similar occurrence this year. I agree there are more important issues affecting the sport but at least this one has been addressed.

Tungate's average was current whereas Woffinden's wasn't and you completely ignore that a significant difference with Tungate is that Woffinden was just using British speedway because his income was drying up elsewhere. You may not regard moral objections as worth considering and as a clear difference between the two situations but to some it is an important point of principle.

I do not blame Chapman for the decline, other than by being a member of the BSPA for many years. What I am questioning is if he is the man to stop the rot and rebuild the sport. The evidence so far, both at his own club and as Chairman, gives me little confidence that he is.

It was seen as quite different to the normal team changes made by most teams during a season. Belle Vue fans accepted that what Wolves did in bringing in Woffinden was within the rules. It wasn't the making of a change in the team that caused them to feel that it was morally wrong but that Woffinden was on an average which did not reflect his current ability coupled with believing that he was just using British speedway because his other commitments were drying up. Personally, I can't pretend that I liked to see the UK being used in this way but accepted the reality that many teams would have done the same given an opportunity to bring him in. Obviously, those in charge of the sport were concerned that a similar situation shouldn't happen this year and changed the rules.

King's Lynn appear to have been on a downward spiral for the last few years. The track, once renowned for the quality of racing, is now seen as gate and go, riders are unhappy about track preparation and supporters complain about poor communication from the club. Chapman is the man in charge and must accept his share of the blame instead of trying to put all of the blame on others. This same man is Chairman of the BSPA. It doesn't inspire confidence. Would anybody appoint someone not making a success of their own local business to run a national company? He promised by now to have delivered openness and transparency, a new rule book and a league sponsor but has failed to do so. There can be no excuse for not achieving the first two promises and this is a man who now admits to being petrified of rider power. The sport hasn't got the luxury of time to wait and see if he can eventually deliver what is required. Where is the plan to rebuild the sport? Is it yet another secret to be kept away from those who play a vital role in keeping the sport alive, the fans. Does it even exist? Speedway is on life support and fans are not seeing anything to encourage a belief that those in charge even know what many of the problems are, let alone have workable solutions. Perhaps it is time for Chapman to step aside and concentrate on rebuilding his own club. The BSPA need someone with the vision and ability to take the sport forward. If there is nobody within their ranks with those abilities they must acknowledge it and look elsewhere for the right person. That is what any sensible business would do. The basic concept of four riders racing on a well prepared track is as capable now of attracting fans as it has ever been. It is all of the other aspects that need action, the rules, the facilities, the PR, the publicity, the continuity of riders in teams, making fans feel valued etc.

They will now. The reality is that like most clubs they delay if significant numbers of people are still queuing to get in and start on time if the weather is threatening. Generally, they are fairly prompt and the first race is between 7.30 and 7.40. Apologies ABS, you posted while I was typing.

Last night Tungate was the NSS track specialist we hoped we had signed. If he can continue that form we should stand a good chance in the play offs.

I think more like 2,300 - 2,500. About 1,800 in the Grandstand and another 500-700 in the South Stand. I don't know how many of those were children, who were free but maybe a couple of hundred. There was extensive advertising in the local press and on social media. The question is could you get those sort of numbers regularly if you charged £10? They tried it a few years ago in the school holidays and the numbers attending soon fell after the first meeting and they lost money. Though that was at the dog track!

Well I was wrong. I expected much more from Lindgren, Schlein and Barker and hadn't expected the real Tungate to turn up. A decent meeting, with some good close racing. Delighted to to be able to watch Bewley as he improves week by week, what a talent. He takes me back to watching Collins and Morton when they were at a similar stage.

Not like Shovlar at all, it's being realistic. Wolves usually do well at the NSS and are now stronger because of Barker and r/r. The absence of Cook now further weakens us. Good to see a sense of humour from those who suggest it may be tactical.

Wolves are already a strong team and generally do well at the NSS. Barker for Howarth and r/r for Thorsell make them even stronger. BV have struggled against much weaker teams and Bjerre and Cook seem to have gone off the boil. It would have been close against their full 1-7 so realistically it's Wolves to lose. Anything less than a 6 point loss and BV will have done well.

Seems to me that Lambert was doing well until he he hurt his wrist again. It's the British disease to run down anyone who is doing well. The lad is 19 and could develop into a really good rider. I've not yet been convinced that he will be world class but let's give him a chance.

Wolves definitely stronger with Barker for Howarth and everyone able to take Thorsell's rides. Going to be very close. We need to dominate at reserve and Cook needs to put the SWC final and Cardiff behind him otherwise, we could be in trouble.

I note the smiley and I certainly can't think that many of the fans already disenchanted with the way their club is run will be sufficiently interested. They know the details will be published elsewhere. There needs to be a proper independent inquiry to look into this latest debacle. If Chapman is really concerned about the fans the very least he should do is to hold a fans forum where fans questions are properly considered and answered, that might be a start to rebuilding their relationship with the club and their confidence in the way it is run.

King's Lynn Twitter, Chapman: "I've written one final column about it which supporters will be able to read on Wednesday and then that’s it, it’s gone." Does he live in the real world? Clearly he is not interested in what fans may wish to say about it having read his column, you've had his thoughts and that's it. It is this attitude from those in charge which epitomises much of what is wrong with our sport. Would any business survive with that sort of attitude towards its customers?

There was a fair amount of rain but when I entered the stadium at about 6.30 the inside of the track looked relatively dry, the water bowser was going round and did so intermittently for the next 30 minutes concentrating mainly on the bends from the mid line almost up to the fence. You could see by the darker colour of the shale that the outside of the bends was much wetter than the inside. I may well be wrong that it is the watering which is contributing to making the outside line much quicker than the inside but it seems to me logical. The problem with pulling back the shale is that it is only pulled back over the outside racing line. What does seem to help is when the tractors pull it back by weaving accross the track on the bends.

Racing at the NSS seems to be better when it is slicker. However, it still provides good racing as witnessed in the Peter Craven and other meetings this year. My theory, for what it's worth, is that when we had the recent heatwave they were at pains to heavily water the track to prevent dust, which it did but that involved putting more water on the outside. The track can take it because of the excellent drainage but the result is more grip on the outside because it retains more of the moisture. I also think the change back to the old racing format has had an adverse affect because you get fewer races between riders of similar ability. The bonus is that it should provide genuine averages, if only we knew the formula they are using and the rationale behind it. It baffles me why they think they have to keep these things secret and only adds to the belief that the fans are best ignored.