Wee Eck

I have told you the truth. And Adrian’s departure was not connected to this in any way. He announced his departure long before the matter of using, or not using Bewley was finalised.

In the same way, those involved in sponsoring Leicester City or the Leicester Tigers are unlikely to be potential sponsors of Leicester Lions. There is competition for sponsorship in all markets but that doesn’t mean that every sport competes for every sponsor

That’s most of the story but it missed one vital element: the Poles agreed to drop the two team maximum rule ONLY if other leagues allowed them (a) to run any night they wished and (b) that their league had priority over riders at all times. This then could adversely affect every Premiership meeting with riders being missing. I’m surprised any team sided with BV on this. Unless there’s one that isn’t using riders also signed up in Poland, but I can’t think of any

Leicester? What about Glasgow, Wolves/Birmingham?

I see that Justin Sedgmen is riding at North Brisbane on 19 March. Cutting it fine if he’s got a UK team place

But it is. BSPL have given Birmingham a special dispensation to use Tai on a 13.5 average for home meetings only. They will be allowed to use up to a 9 point guest for away meetings

Polish authorities. But the inevitable (alleged) strings attached meant it was a non starter.

Haggling over rates of pay only works when there is a plentiful supply of riders which there is at the end of a season. The longer teams go on trying to get riders to sign, the higher the price will be. At this stage, Birmingham (and Belle Vue) will have to pay inflated rates often for lesser riders. If they have managed to get a sponsor’s licence, then expect Justin Sedgmen in the team. He’s a solid rider but has never got beyond being a lower league consistent second string and now, at the age of 30 has to be more “dependable” rather than someone with potential. If Adam Ellis really is in the frame, Birmingham just have to come to an agreement but not one that rewards him for under performance which is what fixed price deals do. I’m sure LR is skilled enough to come up with a stepped formula that will provide an incentive to perform.

Where are you seeing that?

The current “owners” of Belle Vue Speedway have never owned the stadium and neither did the previous owners. It was built and paid for by Manchester City Council and is built on their land. Looking at the detail behind Greenwich Leisure Limited, it looks like they have huge experience of running council owned sports and leisure facilities. It also looks like BV’s only involvement at the NSS is as day (evening) use tenants. They don’t seem to generate any income from the bars and catering facilities, including the Peter Craven suite. A far cry from what the previous owners envisaged. And, if they are just turnkey tenants, as the old BV were at the previous stadium, why are there people on permanent payroll?

I think the goal posts have moved on that one and there’s nowhere now for him to go within speedway

I think there will be mixed views on this. He’s certainly been part of the team that has kept BV alive since the bankruptcy of the previous promotion, but they’ve not really moved things forward, have they? Part of the original concept for the NSS was that it was to be a training hub for young riders, operated by BV. That never happened and it was only because of the hard work of Ian Sinderson (ATPI) Richard Cotton (Rentruck) and a whole host of others through “No Limits” that any training took place at the NSS. Ultimately, the bulk of the training took place away from the NSS as the rent requested by BV made it non-viable for No Limits. If you look at what Glasgow, Berwick and Isle of Wight have done in the last few years, and compare that to the efforts of BV, the picture, to me, is one of under achievement. Perhaps if there is a change of management, and at the moment, it’s not clear if Mr Smith has just stood down as a promoter, then progress on all fronts - promotion, community involvement and training - will be made.

Covid or work permit restrictions?

But that’s not how it works. The Star prints the teams’ press releases then has further contributions from the likes of Peter Oakes, Phil Lanning and some others. If Birmingham don’t “feed” the Star, then the Star won’t do their work for them.

Has Ellis not moved back to Australia and set up a personal training business? That was certainly the direction he took in 2020 and 2021

That’s been a rumour floating for some time…..but is it a misunderstanding and it’s Kyle, not Kye? And is the Dan, DanThompson rather than Dan Bewley? Whatever it is, I suspect that Thomson/Thompson is right

Which Championship team in 2021 “put together a good side to begin with”?

Nope

I think you missed the irony

I think you’ll find arnieg is correct. As at 31 December 2020, the company had £1,000 of share capital and £633,975 of accumulated losses leaving it with a net deficit of £632,975. This was made up of business assets totalling £185,144 and total liabilities, most of which will be monies owed to the owners, of £818,119. The business lost approximately £271k in 2017, £153k in 2018, £94k in 2019 and £115k in 2020. As the club only ran a handful of meetings in 2020, my assumption is that it is fixed overheads that are causing the huge losses rather than day to day running of meetings

I’m not sure if you’re being ironic matching David Gordon with the pits….. But certainly some acknowledgement of the importance to Belle Vue of Chris Morton and Peter Collins is long overdue

I’m not sure I’d go as far as saying he’s a danger to others, and perhaps “terrible” is too strong a word to use. In my view, he’s a terrific grass and long tracker, sports that require riders to sit on the seat all the way through, but can’t adapt his style to speedway where the top riders move off their seat during the race to switch between grip and speed. If you watch Zmarzlik for instance, he never stays still. I watched the 1980 (I think) Intercontinental Final on YouTube recently, won by Chris Morton and you could see him doing the same thing, working the bike for the whole race. James just seems to let the bike work him. I had hoped that riding in the same team as Chris Harris would have helped him by spotting how the Bomber changes styles for different disciplines but maybe James is too set in his ways to change? After all, he’s been riding grasstrack since he was 6!

Hardy “lads” with a 30 year old and two who are 28. But, Edinburgh have a habit of putting together good teams and this could well follow that route. A few will have to up their game, though

Which State title was he second? Or does the Australian under 21 title meet the criteria these days?9

I don’t usually waste my time but, as it is Christmas: Mr Courtney, it is my opinion, shared by many I know, that you are the biggest waste of space that walks the earth. Your negativity is only exceeded by your ignorance and Newcastle speedway is far better off since you were given the bum’s rush by its owner. Apparently