Whiteliner

Having witnessed Mr Havelock's tantrums over many many years I would say that he doesn't actually give a toss if Summers is riding this year or not. Mr Havelock has one priority and that is himself, he does not care what other people think about him and he is always right. Its my belief that he is after getting as much money together before he quits speedway altogether at the end of 2015. I say this because the lease at Redcar runs out after the 2015 season and the 3 people running the club are at an age when I cant see any of them wanting to re-new a lease. These 3 wise men who run Redcar have I believe had some very good offers to buy them out over the last couple of seasons, every offer being refused as it is their club. They want nobody else involved and are not willing to sell. 2015 could very well be the last year speedway takes place at Redcar, they would rather the place shuts down than sell.

Does it really matter to a speedway fan who owns the club as long as you have speedway to watch next season.

Simple solution to stop rolling at the start is to line up the riders at the tapes then put a plastic rail behind the riders to prevent them from rolling backwards. Doesnt have to be anything massive or heavy, could be knocked together with a couple of pieces of would and a piece of plastic from BnQ. Knocking over the back rail would incur the same penalty as touching the tapes. All backward rolling would stop.

Probably because he is better than most of them probably because he is cheaper than most of them probably doesnt have as many demands as most of them.

As a fan of a club some 96 miles north of Scunthorpe may I say that having watched daytime speedway and nightime speedway at Scunny, the club would be mad not to race on a nightime. I make the 200 mile round trip on a friday night to watch speedway at Scunny on a regular basis during the season and its much better racing than i watch at my home track.

If we are going back in time then these are the No1's I always feared coming to Middlesbrough/Teesside: John Jackson (Crewe) almost unbeatable around Cleveland Park Arthur Price (Boston) Arthur Browning (Birmingham) Lou Sansom (Workington) Russ Dent (Sunderland) put that one in just for you Ian, I hope you and Bob are well and have a great 2015. Might even get up to Newcastle a bit more next season.

As a Redcar fan, I would like to wish Glasgow all the luck in the world. Speedway is dying on its feet and anybody willing to invest their cash into the sport must be applauded. If Glasgow are a massive success then it may entice some others into the sport and God knows we need them. So yes, Glasgow may put together a fantastic team that wins everything but hopefully their success will be a spring board for other teams. And lets face it, we all start on 42.5

One thought is that with 2015 being the last year of the lease at Redcar, maybe Havelock is looking for as much money as possible before he bows out.

Footballers are very different, they sign contracts for long periods, speedway riders sign a contract for 1 year. Footballers receive years of training from the clubs that they belong to. Once a riders contract is finished he becomes a free agent just like the footballers Bosman ruling. He should then be free to negotiate a deal with any team he wants to.

MD, I agree with you, but thats how speedway operates in this country and has done for as long as I can remember. The way I see it, all riders are self employed and are owned by nobody. A contract is offered and they either accept it or they dont. I agree that no fee's should be exchanged by any clubs. Lets face it if I employ a plumber to do a job for me then he goes and works for somebody else, I dont get a fee for him.

Sorry heather, It should of said "allowed to move at a lower price", I got a bit ahead of myself. He is being allowed to move but only at the price Havelock has asked. Can you imagine the uproar if riders were just allowed to pick and choose where they wanted to ride when they are an asset of another club. It does seem as though Havelock has spit his dummy out with Glasgow and I wouldnt be at all suprised to see some sort of deal sorted out before the season starts, even a loan deal with Berwick. Havelock is set in his ways and anyone who upsets him feels his wrath be it riders, sponsors or fans. Oh believe me Lioness, I in no way approve of that way of thinking but I have been around Mr Havelock for long enough to know that when he falls out with people be it riders, sponsors or fans they certainly know about it. He feels for nothing or no one apart from himself from what I have witnessed. Stubborn he invented the word.

At the end of the day the following applies: Is Summers a Redcar asset ? Yes Does Havelock have to sell or release him ? No Has a price been set by Havelock ? Yes Do Glasgow have to pay that price ? No Should Summers be aloud to move just because he has asked for a transfer ? No Havelock has his team in place for the next season so why should he be bothered about any of his riders who are not fixed up.

Yes I do, I think the standard of premier league racing is quite poor these days

Having read Cheekycobra's predictions for 2015 I thought I might as well give mine, unfortunately I'm a realist and dont own any rose tinted glasses. Cheekycobra: To be sectioned 2 weeks after receiving the Brian Havelock Appreciation Trophy Bjerre: On the up and improving, still quite young, if injury free could maintain a 9 pt average Hall: On a 4 and a bit average for a reason, should be ok at home but if he spits his dummy out could struggle Robson: Steady enough, on the decline but will still score plenty of points, should maintain his average this season Kus: Unpredictable, needs to feel loved and wanted, can Brian Havelock provide that. Risky signing for me. Skiddy: Needs a big year in 2015, hopefully still improving can get to an 8 pt average Graversen: Will score bags full of points from reserve until he moves into the main body of the team. Confidence rider. Raffa: Given another chance, needs to pick up points or will be out the door. Not convinced......... Overall, I think Redcar will do very well at home, might take a couple of bashings at a few away tracks but should pick up enough points to make the play-offs.

Lets just hope he is given a decent chance to do what he is paid to do. To ride a speedway bike and entertain the public and score lots of points for Redcar, hope he stays positive and doesnt do anything naughty (sorry will get my coat)

Lets be honest about it, he was the best left with an average to fit that would keep Graversen at reserve plus....there have been plenty of riders at Redcar who would make Dilger and Barrett look good over the years.

Having looked back through last seasons away meetings Aaron took 38 rides scoring 55 points giving an away average of 5.79

Sorry, just couldnt resist.

Havelock needed Kus, he doesnt need Summers.

As a Redcar supporter, I have to say that Summers has stood still for the last couple of seasons. His average remains relatively high based on his home performances, his away for is pretty poor. I would say that anyone who buys him is taking a real chance, only real option for me would be a loan deal but dont listen to an offer of a 2 year deal, Havvy's memory doesnt stretch that far

Aaron Summers still available, seen him ride Berwick very well. Has requested a move and now not fit back into Redcars plans, no ties to any Elite League team so will need all the money he can get from Premier League racing, could do a lot worse.

Maybe Berwick can thrash out another 2 year deal for Summers.

Sorry to sound a bit dumb but I really dont get this asset of the club carry on. I always thought that Speedway Riders were self employed. I find it strange that in these cases that a team can ask a transfer fee for a rider who really isnt owned by the club. Surely a rider rides for a club on a contract offered when that contract expires he should be able to move to another club without any hassle. If I employ a builder to do some work for me and we exchange a contract, once that contract has finished I dont own him, he is a free agent to go and work wherever he wants. If a rider is an asset of a club but does not get fixed up with a team place, does the club who he is an asset of pay his wages ??? No they dont. So as you see, I just dont get it. No rider should be classed as an asset of any club and they should be free to sign for whoever they want.

makings of a decent line up....would like to now see Proctor, Franc and either Tom Perry or Raffal Konopka complete the line up

Personally would love to see Worrall and Fisher in the Bears team at least thursday nights would be entertaining again.