CardinalSin

I would treat whats written on there with extreme caution. I still remember a certain Darcy Ward inked in as a "confirmed starter" on a 3.00 point average a few season's ago, and he was there for months right up until the eve of the season, despite the fact it was made clear very early on that he was never eligible!

6.00 would be a disaster to our hopes though Badge. He's very talented of course he is, but the plan was to ease him in at reserve. At 6.00, he could well be third heatleader That would also put paid to any plans the promotion had to sign up Tungate. Heeps and Tungate both in the main body with a couple of lower averaged reserves behind them would be crazy. Hopefully some clarification from our end will come soon enough.

So is Heeps 3 or 6?

There's been a fair few fans of other clubs who put Doolan in their potential teams for next year. It seems the Ipswich promotion have more options for a Witches septet than most with apparently many riders calling them to offer their services, and yet Doolan is once again one of the first names on the team sheet. Chris Louis isn't daft.

Very predictable i think we all expected him back but very sensible. Terrific captain and with the team looking like it will be a youthful one, his experience and leadership qualities will be needed. Good to hear he's ordered new engines for next season too.

I'm really looking forward to getting next weekend's AGM out the way so we can start to see the signings flow. It sounds like we won't have to wait too long to find out who will make up the Witches septet judging by Pete's comments. With his tweet this week saying one or two new names are now in the frame, maybe there will be a surprise or two.

The part i quoted was only a small part of the article that was of interest to me personally. He does generally speak very positively about this season in the Premier league though. Probably best to read the whole article for a more balanced look http://www.lovespeedway24.co.uk/teams/ipswich-witches/pride_back_in_the_witches_a_season_s_review_1_1117766

I must admit this part of Mike Bacon's review in the Evening star of the Witches season jumped out at me... "Of course not everything in the garden has been rosy. Some of the riders in the Premier League are distinctively average. And Witches fans will have to currently live with the fact the Lasse Bjerres, Taylor Pooles and Cameron Heeps of this world, are only using the club as a stepping stone to greater things. Not a nice thought. The Witches need to be back in the big time one day." He's right. The Witches do need to be back in the top flight at some point. That has to be the ambition. But as has been said, the drop down a division was a necessity and not a choice. But my personal view is by the time the likes of Cameron Heeps and possibly Tungate if rumours are to be believed, are ready to move up, we're in a position to move up with them.

Aljack there wasn't any other option about dropping to the Premier league it HAD to be done as the club had lost too much money last season. They played their part to the full in that though it has to be said. Taking the fans for granted and putting together such an appalling team in terms of both entertainment and ability, proved in the end to be a mistake and we ALL nearly paid a heavy price! I like what they are trying to do at the moment though. Building to a hopefully bright future by signing up the like of Heeps and maybe one or two others is a positive step. I know one or two on here hope the club is in the Premier league to stay, but personally i hope they're building the club up to return to the top flight in the not too distant future and be in a much better position to have an entertaining and competitive Elite league side. Until that time, i'm quite happy to support the club in the Premier league.

This EL Vs PL thing is tedious and pointless. Whether you prefer either league doesn't matter here the fact is for next season at least Ipswich are riding Premier league speedway. I'm personally looking forward to getting next weekends AGM out of the way so we can start the team building and discuss who we HAVE signed rather than who's Auntie's Brother in law's goldfish has heard we MIGHT sign. Oh and i full expect the Witches line up to be all an all singing all dancing spectacular septet of the best up and coming talent we've "cherry picked" with all this "silly money" the club have stashed away in the Foxhall office safe!!

Latest tweet from Pete Simmons... #ipswichwitches Management meeting with CL tonight to discuss/plan the 2012 #Ipswich team - couple more names in the frame to! #interesting

With the Witches side looking like it may well be a youthful inexperienced one, Doolan is definitely worth keeping for his leadership qualities. Even though his own form has been poor this year by his standards, he's been a terrific captain and always on hand helping his team mates and rallying the troops. He's held his hands up that he's struggled with machinery this year and not performed as well as we all know he can, but he seemed to get things right towards the end and had a strong finish to the season. He now has a more attractive average too. First name on the team sheet for me.

Another example of reading little in to what is posted on here. Pure speculation.

I've been reading and hearing that for as long as i can remember and it still hasn't happened. There will still be riders this close season who want to ride for this club or that club, their parent club won't be happy, huff and puff and then accept the loan fee and said rider will move to his new club

There has been numerous times this season when the crowd has looked below 1000 and not weather affected meetings either I've enjoyed this season but i'll be honest, not including the end of last year when quite rightly the fans had had enough after an embarrassing season, the crowds this year have generally been worse than what i was used to seeing in the EL. I do though understand the clubs reasons for dropping down and fully support them.

Totally agree. Everyone was taking the figure of 5.99 and not his final CMA which looks less appealing and add to the fact that a lot of that was due to big scores from reserve. Very fine prospect of course and i don't think any fan would turn their noses up if the lad signed for their club. But as you say, not quite the bargain that everyone seems to think.

Just rumour nothing more. Its silly season

Chris Louis keeps talking about the "long term plan" and that its currently on course. I believe he has every intention of taking the club back up when the time is right and he's set out to do what he wants to do, and that is build the club back up and build up the asset base. Those were his words. The signing of Cameron Heeps as a full club "asset" is the start of that. Louis' comments of that signing as follows.... "We believe Cameron will play an important part in the future of Ipswich speedway and this is another step forward in our long term plan to rebuild the club after dropping down to the Premier league". I believe Heeps could well be ready to double up in the EL in 2013, and maybe full time 2014. If Louis has no intention of moving back up to the top flight, then the "future" that he mentions Cameron being part of is only the immediate future as in next season.

The club aren't rolling in bank notes. Indeed, last close season there was a genuine scare that the club wouldn't operate this year and that was admitted by Chris Louis himself. As others have said, I don't believe for a minute that the promotion are throwing "silly money" at riders. Thank you.

I'm not too clued up on averages and assessed averages and the like, so why would Heeps be a 3 but Tungate a 5?

Well done Kevin Doolan. Spent the majority of the season searching for set ups but has been in excellent form in the closing weeks of the season and much more like his normal self.

Full news of Cameron's signing http://www.ipswichwitches.co/index.php/home

Tungate has been having after meeting spins at Foxhall for a few weeks now and has impressed everybody. Maybe one of the new assets Chris Louis has been talking about recently? Hope this one has legs he looks a talent.

Mike bacon just tweeted a few minutes ago he's at track and meeting ON