ZODIAK

Why would you have to pretend to like it?

Making a managerial mistake in the heat of a meeting which I earlier referred to, is different to flatly refusing a tactical ride because the team manager has previously pulled you from your fourth ride. That's not a mistake is it? That's just petulance. We'll agree to differ on this one Bruv. Anyway let's look to the future rather than the past and hope we're all on here tomorrow agreeing that the Witches 2016 septet is a good un.

Not harsh at all. No matter what, you don't refuse a tactical when asked because you're pissed off with the team manager that's unforgivable. Good luck to any team that signs a "team man" like that. I don't want to see him anywhere near a Witches race jacket again.

Hawkins!!? No ta. Wouldn't have him in the team on 0.00.

@Mike_Bacon: Good news @ipswichspeedway fans just one more sleep and the 2016 team will be revealed IN FULL tomorrow @EADTsport24 @ipswichstar24

Agree he didn't look great and the Sheffield fans are not convinced (mind you they weren't convinced about Covatti either ), but on 3.33 you can't go far wrong with that surely? Especially after this years bedding in period. If we're going to have a strong top end and long tail, I think he'd be decent value on that figure.

Who is his "friend"?

Again it's hypothetical but then again we've little else to go on or discuss, but if the proposed team is close to the mark (obviously no Nielsen now), Then Risager will have three heatleaders above him who will shoulder the main point scoring responsibility. Risager as a second string is absolutely fine. Is that really a problem though? Those consistent 6's might not help to contribute to any victory, where as a couple of those double figure score certainly could. Risager has tracks he performs well on, as well as some he's awful on. But you can say the same for the majority of PL riders.

I think Risager will up his current average by around half a point. Wasn't it around the mid 7's in his 3 years with us? I think he can get back to that.

Is Ashley's average higher than Lewis Rose? Just like Nielsen, I really don't fancy Morris in the 1-5 either.

"Rossiter said: We picked Stefan initially in the draft, but we held fire on announcing it as there was some confusion regarding where hed be riding in the Premier League. Thats all been sorted now so he'll definitely be free to ride for us, and we are delighted to have him on board." That must mean he's not a Witch then surely? Perhaps we'll be seeing a different 1-7 then the "leaked" one after all..

Crikey. Saturday nights didn't even enter the equation Mavis. It will be week days.

They really need to try and get the EL and PL riding on seperate nights that would solve all the problems. Easier said than done I know but it needs to be strongly investigated at the least. It may mean some clubs moving from their tried and trusted race nights, but as long as they're given the thumbs up from the stadium owners to ride on a certain night then sacrifices might have to be made. We're seeing more and more riders riding in both leagues these days so it's an increasing problem but I'm not sure racing on an unusual race night for some clubs would harm there attendance any more or less than fixtures with so many missing riders on their normal race night.

On that average I think he's a very good signing for Rye! May not be a thrill merchant, but he can be so so quick when in front and he'll put weight on that average IMO which is the name of the game. Kennett is similar to King, awesome PL number 1 few if any better than those two. You'll get dependable solid scoring from Lanham too and he's a great team man so I don't think it's as bad as some of you are making out. If they get the last two right then it'll be a good team.

Just don't pull him out of his 4th ride if he's having a crap meeting otherwise he'll throw his toys out of the pram, refuse tacticals and then quit!!

No.

In all seriousness is that proposed team really that bad? I agree that there are a few concerns with it and the tail looks a long one, but I'm not sure it's "shocking"

Douglas. He's ditched the Hammers and is now in control of the Witches. This off season is just getting more crazy.

Agree very interesting. Very strange turn of events. Bizarre..

As has been said before, what can sometimes look to us in the stands or us sitting at home watching the updates that the team manager has "dropped a few clangers", is not always the case when you're in the thick of the action down in the pits. I remember when Phil Hilton was getting pelters on here early on this season, when he didn't use an on fire reserve (Covatti) as a tactical later in the meeting which definitely "cost us points". It subsequently came to light that Covatti was suffering with clutch problems and at the time the tactical was needed he wasn't ready. I'm not saying Phil Hilton hasn't made any mistakes, the bloke is a human being so of course he has. Just like every other team manager we've had in the past and just like every other team manager we'll have in the future! T B, Chris Louis tried and quickly gave up the managers role after admitting he was struggling to get the best out of the team so I don't think he fancied it either.

Id say most earn a living in different variables but I agree with T B that a fair few of the lower end riders who aren't scoring many points are struggling to break even. I also agree with you that sponsorship is very important particularly to the youngsters. Some talented lads have been forced to give the sport up simply because they've had so little support that they couldn't maintain competitive machinery. Sub standard machinery means few points which means a continuation of sub standard machinery. That seems to be a problem for a lot of British youngsters who don't seem to get the same backing as some of their foreign counterparts. I know Adam Ellis' father was cheesed off that his lad was struggling for sponsorship while foreign imports with fancy names (and no more talent) were picking up British based sponsorship instead.

Isn't that exactly what I said? I said a few making a small profit, which by your comment that the "majority" aren't, you must agree with? It's the poster I quoted who seems to think that promoters up and down the country are making an all signing all dancing profit, I certainly don't and I've said that in the post you quoted.

So those promoters that are saying they are making a loss are telling fibs? The previous owners at Peterborough weren't just making losses, they were making huge losses! Thankfully for Frost he is a very wealthy man. There maybe a few making a small profit, but I'm not convinced the majority are and all of them are relying heavily on sponsorship. I can't remember who it was now, but there was somebody a few years ago that was interested in taking over the Witches, that had one look at the books and then run a mile..