Garry1603

Taken from the Manchester Evening News Website:- Belle Vue Aces bosses say they are not to blame after club had speedway licence revoked They were effectively shut down under their current management yesterday after having their speedway licence revoked by the sport’s governing body due to ‘concerns over financial management’ The bosses of Belle Vue Aces say they are not to blame for the crisis that has engulfed the historic club. They were effectively shut down under their current management yesterday after having their speedway licence revoked by the sport’s governing body due to ‘concerns over financial management’. Their tenancy of the brand new £8 million National Speedway Stadium in Gorton was also ended, after just seven months, with the council saying they had been paid no rent. The Aces management have expressed their dismay, laying the blame squarely at the door of the contractors who built it and their landlord, the city council. In March, disaster struck when the stadium’s grand opening had to be abandoned due to issues with the track, which was declared unsafe, with the club having to offer refunds to the 5,000 capacity crowd. A further four home meetings also had to be cancelled whilst emergency repairs were carried out. Belle Vue’s former chief executive David Gordon, who ran the club with ex-Aces rider Chris Morton, said they never recovered from the financial impact of the debacle which ‘spelled the beginning of the end’. And he says the stadium builders and the council, who were project managers, should shoulder the blame. The city council have refuted this, with sources saying the club’s financial problems run much deeper than the effects of one or two cancelled meetings. They also say they offered lots of support, including the offer of loans, the kind of which no other club in the country received. In a statement released on Thursday night, Mr Gordon, who stood down earlier this week, said: “The actions of other people are the cause of the problems we have faced this season. “Those responsible are the stadium and track builders, ISG, and, as a consequence, Manchester City Council in their role as Project Managers. “A report by structural engineers, Arup, clearly put the blame for the defective track on the builders.” He added they never recovered from the ‘financial impact’ of the grand opening failure. Mr Gordon added they would be pursuing legal action. ISG said they were not aware of any litigation. An ISG company spokesman told the M.E.N: “We are saddened to hear that Belle Vue Aces has had its licence revoked, as we forged a strong relationship with the club over the course of the development of the new National Stadium in Manchester. “Undoubtedly, the cause of the Belle Vue Aces’ financial position is multi-faceted, however we firmly reject any suggestion that the club’s current issues arise from our delivery of the new stadium facilities. “We can confirm that there has never been any form of legal dispute between ISG and Manchester City Council as a result of the stadium’s delivery, and we continue to work closely with the council delivering projects across the region.” Belle Vue have been promised a spot in next year’s top division but their affairs will now be taken over by the British Speedway Promoters Association (BSPA). whilst new promoters are found. The Aces were run under the BV Group of businesses. A Manchester City Council spokesman said: “Early track issues were rectified quickly to ensure that races could be fulfilled, including the successful Speedway World Cup event in July. “Following completion of these works, the track has been fully operational allowing the club to race their full schedule of elite matches this year, and has been acknowledged for its high quality within the speedway world. “The council also allowed BV Arena Ltd to occupy the stadium rent free during the period of time when the track issues were being rectified to ensure they could continue operating. “At the request of the BV Arena Ltd, the city council offered further financial support through a commercial loan. “The directors of the BV Group of businesses decided to not take up the offer. “Following completion of the works, BV Arena Ltd have not made any payments due to the Council for use of the stadium. “The fact is that both the BSPA and Manchester City Council now have major concerns about the financial management of the BV Group companies – accruing significant debts with the City Council and other parties - which has had a far more detrimental effect on the club than any postponed matches. “The important thing is that the team will race at Belle Vue next season under new management, and through our partnership with BSPA, speedway will have a sustainable future in Manchester.” If true, the fact that the management declined the offer of finanical assistance means that they knew the business would have to fold at the end of the season.

I think Greg Hancock has had his 'Bruce Penhall at White City moment' where he has gone from most people's affections to someone who has brought the integrity of the sport into question. Congratulations on being an all time great rider, but I think that your legacy has been tainted forever.

Totally agree. Hard but fair is a fundamental part of racing. The only trouble is that a person's definition of hard but fair depends on which rider you like!

I knew it would be our fault!!

Let's not tarnish a brilliant night of speedway. Great racing, great atmosphere and great drama. When speedway is good, it's VERY good. I'm disappointed in the result but not with the occasion. Well done Wolves!

Unless there is some sort of cost cap (as Formula One tried) there's no way that a PL club will step up. As a Belle Vue fan I'd love to see Sheffield step up to reignite some local derbies, but I can't see it happening. The old Rider Control system in the 70s was very unpopular, but it DID work and kept things more even and therefore interesting. It would need to be an independent panel (or supremo) who would decide where the riders went - and with the current promoters it won't happen.

If it was Instagram afterwards it wasn't a heat of the moment rant live on TV, it was a considered opinion. That, for me, is a bigger issue.

Really? Perhaps he's trying to get a ban until oohhh........... let's say next September

I agree - hopefully the AGM might change things, but I somehow doubt it. Can you imagine the Barclays Premier League with just eight teams in it? Variety is the spice of life!

Great meeting and tremendous, committed racing by both teams. BV fell short on the night but it was always going to be a tall order after Monday. I said after the first race that although Lindgren won, PK looked to be very fast and so it proved. He was probably the one who raised his game a little more than the others over two legs. A great servant to the Wolves and to speedway in general. Tai sometimes doesn't think things through when he's doing interviews and says the first thing that comes into his mind. If he had laughed off the jeers he was getting, he would have come across much better rather than calling the fans 'idiots'. He's still a great rider but I don't think that he will ever be truly popular in this country unlike previous champions Collins and Loram. As far as the Aces were concerned, the two riders who underperformed on Monday, Fricke and Jacobs were excellent and it ended up a 'what might have been' conversation on the way home. Nicholls appears not to be quick enough these days on big circuits sadly and I think it might mean he will move on in the winter, but the future is bright for the Aces with a lot of young, up and coming talent. However, the real winner last night was the amazing track which is now starting to 'feel' like the Hyde Road track. After all the (deserved) stick the management got at the start of the season, maybe they should be getting some praise as well. Their time will come, I'm sure of it.

Loking forward to going tonight. The Aces need to keep focus if they are to have any chance. As has been said, take 4-2s if they present themselves and chip away at the lead. If we can get to six points down after heat 10 or so, anything can happen.

Couldn't see another thread for this - I hope there's not a reason for that! I think that we'll see a lot of changes to the team for next year, whatever the format that comes out of the AGM. Cost savings might be a factor but I think that one or two riders might be moved on anyway. For me, I think that Zagar and Nicholls might be the ones to move on. Nicholls has been a great pro for the Aces but hasn't really got to grips with the new track and Zagar is too inconsistent for my liking. That leaves:- Cook - time to be a real number one With growth to come from:- Worrall R Worrall S Fricke Jacobs Two heat leaders to be signed - but who? Maybe a Pole or two given the shape and size of the track, and the big Polish population in East Manchester might be attracted to come to watch.

I agree with everything you said - and it's a very bitter pill to swallow.

Very poor, but I'll go there on Wednesay with belief. As has been said before, it could be ne of the greatest night's ever, Unlikely, but it COULD be. Up the Aces!

I think if BV can hold it to six points tonight, they can pull it back on Wednesday. I actually think they might sneak it tonight though 44-46

Great performance tonight, no quesiton. Will he ever become an Elite League heat leader... not sure

I thnk this season might see a 'changing of the guard' for some of the older riders. I can see Pedersen, Hancock, Hampel and {maybe} Holder being on the decline, being replaced by Zmarzlik, Doyle, Janowski and Kildemand

Obviously a lot depends on injuries, but.................... 1. Woffinden 2. Iversen 3. Pedersen 4. Doyle 5. Hancock 6. Janowski 7. Holder 8. Zagar 9. Hampel 10. Zmarlik 11. Jonsson 12.. Kildermand 13. Lindback 14. Pawlicki 15. Harris

Sadly, I wouldn't bet on it

Based on the 'evidence' so far, I think that Colin Meredith's position is untennable.

I'm sure Ken Eyre has a lot more stories to tell !

It would be interesting to see interviews with ex Belle Vue riders:- Eric Broadbelt Ken Eyre Chris Turner Jim Brett Pekka Hautamaki

One of those riders who if he rode for your team was a 'good, hard rider' and if he rode for the opposition was a 'nutter, dangerous, loudmouth' (delete as appropriate!). Definitely a character though and someone the sport could do with right now. Sorry to read about his personal tragedy as well.

Met Dave at Belle Vue last night where he was doing a book signing. Told him what a great book it is and how 'honest' it was. Highly recommended for any fan of the 70s and 80s.

We'll see!