Wee Eck

Not John Perrin. 2013 vs Poole in the David Gordon era. Two riders, Zagar and Zetterstrom (allegedly) missed their plane, and the track was deliberately over watered. Darren Hartley was dispatched by SCB to investigate as he lived locally. My recollection was that BV were fined and told in future they needed to have a referee’s inspection before a meeting was called off

Is it contempt or just incomplete negotiations? We know there’s a deal in place for Ipswich which has still some fine tuning required to make it happen. We also know there are discussion going on with the owners of Northampton which have still to be finalised. As punters, we have no “right” to know the details but what we do know is something is happening. The waiting is certainly frustrating but that hardly amounts to contempt. The parties involved have a right to confidentiality.

Remind me, please, which tracks has Tony MacDonald owned or even promoted that he’s an expert? Or is he just another Matt Ford/Poole speedway hater?

Sorry - who are you talking about? I’m talking about the best speedway Premiership manager.

I’m not sure why Kings Lynn are being ignored in the predictions. They’ve got the top rider from last year plus Bomber, the fast Cook and Kvech, potentially the most exciting RS in the league and undoubtedly the best team manager. Buster seems to be a bit low key these days but there’s no doubt he runs a very successful business with everything that goes on at his track.

Why? BK was signed months ago and was never available. Looking like a Sheffield vs Belle Vue final even before the season has started. Unless it is Mayfield that are taking over Ippo and they’ve persuaded a GP rider (or 2?) to sign up for the Witches.

I am told the CL fixtures are going through the final adjustments and may be out by the weekend. PL is different as there’s still no confirmation on Ipswich and Northampton. I’m sure the drafts will have been circulated - for 5 and for 6 teams - but can’t be finalised until they know how many to plan for

I suspect the requirements for flat track protective barriers is different than for speedway

What event are KL staging?

Interesting that FIM has not homologated the polyfoam barrier but SCB licences it. I wonder why that might be?

https://glasgowtigers.co.uk/glasgow-announce-british-youth-partnership/ Maybe Ashfield can become the true National Speedway Stadium

Thank you. I don’t always agree with your views but this time I do. The NDL used to work much better but the arrival of one team who looked on it as a cash cow spoiled it for everyone. Riders who were happy at £10 a point and 10p a mile discovered a team paying £25 a point and 20p a mile and everyone wanted parity. The stand alone teams, like the Moss’s at Buxton, were driven out. And now, with Poland taking the best riders and, from next year, imposing a restriction on where they can ride, why should promoters invest in a future that won’t benefit them?

Although I usually understand your bilious attacks on Poole, though not why you make them, this one has me foxed. Garritty’s Coventry “legend” was being caught hot boxing, allegedly, in his van before a meeting and being sent home. And care homes??? I doubt the Fords would want anything to do with him

Is speedway the only motorsport in Britain, two, three or four wheeled, that pays riders as soon as they make even the lowest rung of the NDL?

27.3 - daft answer but you started it

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?