Wee Eck

With 5 teams in the Premiership and 9 in Championship, how’s he going to do that? I expect BV to be running with 4 Championship riders this year, so they need strong riders to back up their “top” three. There is no local Championship competition to BV - their nearest Chanpionship tracks are over 100 miles away - so a strong or weak Championship is irrelevant to their crowd levels.

The answer is surely clear - the rules say only one rider OVER 8 so whether CC is 7.99 or 8.00 is irrelevant. Workington can welcome him back……

My guess is that there will be wholesale changes in the Management Board with only one or maybe even none of the existing directors remaining. The new Chairman appointed will seem to some to be an unusual choice. And I don’t expect it to be any of the three mentioned, Phil Morris, Matt Ford or Peter Facenna

Let Garritty work for Timpson then

I agree with much of what you say but don’t see the Martindale connection. Martindale was just an occasional footballer but made his living away from the game and was convicted of drug offences and money laundering. It looks like, on his release from prison, he turned his back on his criminal past but it was something like 6 years after his release before he obtained a paid position in football having regained the trust of some people but not all, especially Scottish football’s governing body who took another five years before they were willing to accept he was “fit and proper” to be an official. Garritty was convicted of robbery with violence. I don’t see anything - though I might be wrong - of there being any conviction for possession or dealing. Prior to his imprisonment, Garritty made his living from sport, Martindale didn’t. Garritty is looking to be re-employed as a sportsman straight away. Martindale had to wait many years and then only in the capacity of an official. Yes, Martindale proves criminals can be rehabilitated and all credit to him for what he has achieved. Those that know recognise that Garritty has had many many “second chances” and so far taken none of them. The last one was being released on licence last year which didn’t last long. Why should any club be expected to give him another chance? Let him do a Martindale - get a job, prove you’ve changed, then someone might think he still has a value within speedway.

I do. Why do you have to be so rude about a Poole director, promoter and owner on a Poole thread? Give Clive some credit for keeping Poole’s name at the forefront. One of the reasons why this thread now runs to 71 pages. How many are there for Plymouth?

I think you’re talking about three decades ago, not one and the £200 quoted was for two nights in the best seats. Having said that, prices for all entertainments have risen far faster than inflation, partly due to increased performer payments.

Are you saying they bribed someone? Do you have proof? Who would they have bribed? The judge? The jury? Don’t forget the case went to a full Crown Court trial. After what you have stated as fact and if someone accuses you of defamation and seeks compensation, do you have any evidence to defend your remarks? My understanding is that they paid their lawyers and barristers to defend them. And that’s it. If you took a moment to research the case, and the court transcripts are probably a matter of public record, then you will understand the accusations and the defence. And why the verdict was the correct one.

They paid whatever they paid to clear their names. Those that know the details - and you can always ask Paul Burbage as, AFAIK, he attended every day of the trial - know how and why the jury decided they were not guilty.

I thought both nights were pretty close to sold out - despite the high prices - last year?

I’d missed that bit. Dear me

I’d missed that bit. Dear me

I’m afraid there will always be people sympathetic to his self imposed plight thinking he deserves a second chance. The man had huge support when he was involved with Belle Vue and abused that. He had a second chance when he rode for Rye House and abused that. Ask Havvy about his antics when he rode for Coventry - another “second chance - and about his long term shoulder (?) injury that kept him away. Yet another “second chance” was when he was released on licence and was recalled for breaching the conditions. Many years ago, a charity of which I was a trustee set out to help people who had been involved with the criminal justice system, particularly those who had been imprisoned for drug related crimes. We quickly realised that prison had not rehabilitated them and all too many returned to their old ways, and would say whatever they felt needed saying to get their own way. I fear the journalist how wrote the piece in the Star was a victim of such tactics - put simply, was he conned? Anyone tempted to help Garritty needs so have an over abundance of caution and resilience. Some people don’t change.

You said that on Saturday

So Nagel is now just twice as good rather than ten times?

Slater Lightcap - with a free visit from Greg Hancock included in the price. Mind you, he’ll also demand free parking

Well, not exactly “done the time” as he’s back out on licence. And, from the quotes from the SS article, he’s now changed the story of his offences. Anyway, I’m sure some well meaning team will take him on, maybe one known for unusual signings, who are rumoured to be signing another rider with a tortured past?

So you expect Hausl to end the season with an average of 0.739? He wouldn’t last a month if that was the case

So you expect Hausl to end the season with an average of 0.739? He wouldn’t last a month if that was the case

Or as Cairns signing for Workington in 2025 would have been…..

Cost?

I think that had become inevitable with all the other team announcements. In my view, he was the stand out rider for Scunthorpe in 2025 and I thought, although he should be the first pick for 2026, there was a risk he’d decide it was time to continue his development elsewhere. Not winning away - although the Scorpions did manage it once in the league - is not unusual for a team designed to win at home, but to only win 3 out of 8 home meetings was a shocker. Having Pickering at the top and Harrison in the engine room should return Scunthorpe to being strong at home.

I think that had become inevitable with all the other team announcements. In my view, he was the stand out rider for Scunthorpe in 2025 and I thought, although he should be the first pick for 2026, there was a risk he’d decide it was time to continue his development elsewhere. Not winning away - although the Scorpions did manage it once in the league - is not unusual for a team designed to win at home, but to only win 3 out of 8 home meetings was a shocker. Having Pickering at the top and Harrison in the engine room should return Scunthorpe to being strong at home.

There seem to be very few new to the league riders this year. Glasgow have 2, Poole 1 and, if Workington go down the route everyone is suggesting - and hoping - they do by resigning Cook, then they might have another. Or who have I missed?

What about the Bournemouth Buccaneers? Was that not a Poole junior team that ended up losing a shed load of money? Poole then made the decision to concentrate on what they’re good at, which was to pay for developed talent, which was undoubtedly good business for lower and same league teams. This route is sadly now lost due to the unnecessary (in my view) collapse of the retained list system. Anyway, can we move on from All our Yesterdays and get back to Poole 2026