Hawk127

You rarely transfer a lease but tend to assign and the landlords would want to ensure that at the very least they are not in a less advantageous position and most landlords taking on new unknown tenants would seek security of payment in terms of the rental income. This could be by way of a cash deposit, bank guarantee or SBLC in order to ensure they are no worse off. We do not know when the lease was due to expire, nor do we know the potential new term or the rent increases during the term of the lease and whether it is full repairing etc.. Suffice to say it appears to be a factor which has caused a delay but is not insurmountable. The fundamental point is CL as a seller knew the status and could have anticipated a potential delay and if not his legal representatives would have be aware of the possibility so the press release is flawed and should be taken with a pinch of salt. No doubt all will be resolved and 2026 will hear the bikes roar at Foxhall. Just a shame the reputation has been called into question because of the failings of a few.

That is not strictly true. The lease sets out the terms under which a tenant acquires the right to use the facility but unless the terms of the lease include guarantees regarding the rental monies, if a tenant fails to pay the rental they forfeit the lease and it reverts back to the landlord who can then let the premise to another tenant. The chances of it ending up in court are slim given that the costs outweigh the result. Even if CL had done a deal before putting the club up for sale, it would still involve an assignment and that in turn involves due diligence etc. The landlord still has to approve an assignment, the tenant cannot simply reassign a lease.

Chris Louis said the lease was the issue in the statement released. If you take a look at the statement in which he said “the club sale has stalled due to the renewal of the stadium lease” so I am not sure why you think that the other poster and I do not know that. If CL is saying why are we wrong? Renewal of the lease would suggest that it was due to expire or has expired. It does not suggest that JL had forfeit the lease and new terms needed to be agreed with new tenants. It is irrelevant anyway but the whole point is the sport has been dragged down over this and other factors. It is a shambles and Ipswich/JL and others are complicit in making the situation worse than it needs to have been.

The stadium issue which is seemingly lease related will have been known for some considerable time and the renewal date would have been set out in the terms of the previous lease so no excuses. It was possibly a matter of public record if the lease/sub lease was registered but I am not prepared to pay a fee to corroborate the position. Even if the lease or sub lease was not registered, CL would have known the position and could easily have made a short statement regarding the lease coming to the end of its term and hence a delay could be expected. Yes the lease holder (Spedeworth) need to carry out due diligence on the new will not want to be in a position that is materially different to that which they were in with the JL (e g bank guarantees underpinning rent payments etc..). I do not think it is a case of the new owners being more professional, anyone involved in acquiring a business that has a leased asset would face the same issues and potential delays. But you have to go back to the fact that the date would have been known so to point the finger at Spedeworth as being the reason for the delay is a tad unfair. When JL decided to sell he would have been fully aware of the lease position. The team building and release of names does make sense but in the overall scheme of things, all parties have a made a dogs dinner of proceedings and the statement does little to deter the detractors of the sport who think it is run by amateurs who have little business acumen and that is why it cannot attract any decent sponsorship that would make a real difference and give it a modicum of credibility. All who have been involved have done the sport no favours.

The sad thing is that nothing ever changes and it is business as usual for those running the sport. Even those fans looking at the Championship fixtures are moaning so it is a case of as you were all round. Do think anyone would listen/take notice of the paying punters if collectively supporters boycotted just one home meeting to make a point and leave the riders performing in front of empty terraces? Another point which comes to mind, if Mayfield have taken over Ipswich, will they have to wait a few years before they are allowed to sit at the top table? Oh well just sit back and wait for the moans from promoters about the lack of support and enthusiasm from the punters and the repeated threats of closure. All part of the speedway business model.

It is not just about Ipswich albeit they are a major factor in the current situation, it is about speedway as a whole and those incompetent individuals who as custodians of the sport have collectively contributed to the decline in the sport as a creditable activity. Failure to promote on a national basis, the me, me, me attitude of promoters and the inability to control the riders who are the tail wagging the dog has left what was once the second biggest spectator sport in this country an example of abject failure. No one has any vision and the idea of working collectively for the benefit of all is beyond the comprehension of the promoters. Yes you can be grateful that speedway at Ipswich will feature in 2026 but it should never have got to this situation and whilst it is not in the public domain the reasons for JL throwing in the towel, it clearly has something to do with all of those on the top table and their attitude. We will see, but for now some will feel it is better than nothing but until the attitude changes this may just be a temporary solution.

Those that are managing/controlling this Ipswich campaign are running the risk of losing the good will of not just the Ipswich fan base but that of the entire Premiership where those declared clubs are seemingly being held to ransom over the indecisiveness or one or more parties when it comes to the fixture list etc. The dwindling fan base who like to plan ahead to support their team at away matches are ignored to the point where that particular contribution that fans make in terms of travelling support falls on deaf ears of those in charge. Promoters are happy to take the punters money but pay scant regard to realising the importance of keeping supporters on side and the mushroom syndrome is the mantra that suits the promoters business model. Many more will find other things to do on race nights and pick and choose those meetings they want to attend yet those running the sport seemingly have their respective heads buried in the sand so much so that you feel they could not find themselves a way out of a paper bag let alone solve the issues of. the self inflected mire the sport finds itself in and actually go out of there way to ignore the contribution the die hard supporters offer this great sporting spectacular. Speedway could be so good if promoted as something special and run by those who had a vision to expose it to broader audience, but the insular way in which it is runs means this will not happen in the short to medium term. Get rid of the old guard and things might change, but leave it as is and it will pass into history.

Sorry did not know that. I will have it redacted straight away. I knew my advisers would let me down but I listened anyway. Should I resign now or after the signing tonight. Replies on a post card please as I don’t do emails or WhatsApp. (Other messaging services are available)

And don’t tell us but a certain Mr Godfrey will be team manager and he has managed to get concessions from Polish authorities to ride most home matches on a Sunday providing those matches take place between October and March which would work as most teams do not seem to like riding matches in the summer months.

Absolutely correct. Those in charge are deluded and while one league could work using a broader scale of riders (excluding GP riders and those plying the trade in Poland etc..) the sport in the UK is beyond redemption. If UK speedway continues to believe that it has a role to play on the world stage it is kidding no one but itself. Individual riders may make it to the top but the run of the mill league speedway rider in the UK may produce the odd one or two who can crack the mould and reach the top but most are average but still very capable of entertaining the punters who will then feel that they are getting value for money from an entertainment perspective. 2027 needs planning now but whether those in charge acknowledge this is another issue. Statements to date from the BSPL leave the door open but who can trust them as custodians of the sport?

Yep. He could decide it was unfair to put riders through the pain of racing for six months and instead abandon the fixtures and go straight to the play offs with all five teams competing. It would be fairer for the riders, the public and the economy. Rachel Reeves will make a commons statement on how she can help financially which will include no VAT on all burger and chip sales during the play offs. That should sort UK speedway out for 2026.

Government aides have several names under consideration and Starmer will be told to make an announcement in the House of Commons later. Until then the party view is that all this idle chat is causing unnecessary pain for Northampton residents and speculation should stop now.

I do not think it is just the Ipswich crew. Riders, mechanics etc talk either directly or using one of the electronic methods of communication yet not a murmur from anyone in the league. Perhaps all are under the threat of the sword of Damocles if anyone utters a word? Someone somewhere has some sway if that is the case. Maybe the season’s sponsors are lead by Don Corleone. All very unusual perhaps it needs a good detective to take a look. I would call in Kojak or Colombo, no point in those modern day detectives, Poirot or Morse. Maybe the answers will be forthcoming tomorrow.

What I do not really understand from a financial aspect is that very few if any riders are a major draw for fans who know the sport let alone potential new supporters so why pander to the riders demands paying over the odds for nil return? Build teams that are viable and some riders will climb the professional ladder and perhaps make it to GP level but if the tracks that do exist put out teams who can provide exciting racing each week at whatever level and it is affordable and competitive then that is where UK speedway is. Let’s face this country cannot get decent crowds to turn out for a GP and the halcyon days of big names attracting 50k to 60k are never going to happen. If riders cannot make a living riding for one club then the cost of participating is too expensive and needs looking at. Expecting increasing numbers of supporters and sponsors to pay someone the equivalent of an annual salary for six months work is nonsense. The whole business model is barmy and has been for years. Fools and their money are soon parted and that applies across the entire speedway spectrum.

Another version of spot the ball only you have a map of Gt Britain and you have to guess when and where the fixture will be the following week. Answer to be sent in on the back of a fag paper. First prize, tickets to last weeks fixture which was postponed until sometime in September or October.