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Another message for Neil Watson, Obviously you are someone in a privileged position, although not able to enlighten the supporters of the questions they ask. But surely you can see from all the comments and posts on these Forum pages, how unimportant and irritated the supporters have become. Can you please convey these feeling to the people that matter in the hope that the communication with the fans can be improved. Because quite honestly the current situation does nobody any favours.... It appears to me, that although the sport is on its last legs, the BSPA are doing nothing to ensure those fans stay interested. They should be knocking walls down, not building new ones........

Wow !!! You cant say you weren't warned. That's 4 elderly people who will have to pay extra, just to make up for that loss.

Carrying on from the above, It is a fact, that every rider who has competed in the Elite League since in induction of the Draft scheme, coupled with the protected race format are ALL on fictitious averages. They bear no relevance to the rider's ability and are therefore pointless when ensuing equal team strength. I sympathise with Managers and Promoter trying to assemble teams using these figures, it turned the whole process into a farcical exercise.

If you ask me, the whole organisation is a farce. Its no wonder the sport is all but dead, the governing powers do their very best to keep the fans in the dark. How do they intend to promote a sport when even the loyal fans don't know what's going on. This is the time when the sport should be knocking on doors and generating Interest and Sponsorships, yet some of us still don't know the team that we are suppose to be supporting..... Having watched the sport's peaks and troughs for many years, but has to be the deepest trough I can ever remember....

Now that unfair on Mads Back in the year Dot when Mads was HL, he was always there or thereabouts

Defeatist attitude, more of a realist attitude in fact. I am well aware of the current situation, and the lack of quality riders, so when losing someone as impressive as Niels it makes a massive hole in ones expectations. Niels riding every week shouldered a large proportion of our points responsibility, he was the one who made the team selection look good. Now he's gone, the talk is to find someone good enough to take on his role, and that's difficult!!!! Next year was always going to be difficult, with 2 important riders coming back from injury. Lewis Rose picking up from where he once was, Robert Lambert taking the bull by the horns and showing what he's made of. Kenny recapturing his old form. So many variables to gamble on to be in with a chance of success. We needed a top star to rely on and bring out a positive outcome.... Unlike other on here, I'm a supporter that goes every week. Rain, Blow, Shine, makes no difference. whatever the meeting, whatever the opposition, I am always there. So yes I believe I'm entitled to an opinion, be it defeatist or other wise. Some people may not like, the speak as I find attitude, but at least you know where I stand, and can guarantee I will be supporting the Stars, with whatever team they choose to sign. That's more then can be said for a lot of fans....

It wouldn't Surprise me to see KK at the top of the Score sheets. Brilliant signing !!!!!!

They're many names that I've considered as a replacement for Niels, but slowly and surely they are being snapped up by other teams. This waiting about for announcement of the team is all very good but I get the impression as we are missing the boat every time. KK would have been an ideal candidate. Assuming now we will have a team similar to last year, with only just Niels replacement to be found. I don't think we will feature too highly in the honours stakes, even if we do managed to persuade Herbie Hancock nor Nicki Pedersen to join in. Not too optimistic........

No doubt the Coventry Storm entrance is considerably cheaper, and affordability is everything. There are a lot of elderly people worse off than others and struggle to make ends meet., .To put their admission up is the decision you've made. Hope it don't back fire on you. but time will tell.... Point of thought though!!!: For every elderly person who stays away next year, you will be need 4 people to pay extra to equal what you received previously That's 20% drop in attendance.......If that figure is a drop of, say 25% then you are on a loser......... Lose money; lose attendance; lose spin-offs; lose atmosphere. That's a big gamble...... in a time when you need all the support you can get............

Always like to have my two pennies worth. I understand the reasoning of lowering the cost of the younger person, hoping to attract more to the sport, but not at the expense of those who already support the sport. From my visit to various tracks the crowd always have a big percentage of older patrons. But persecuting them is wrong. Some will continue to follow the sport, while others will say sod this. Its quite obvious from the new pricing structure the older generation is not favoured. Weighing the extra income against the absenteeism of others will be a close call, all it will do is drive people away............. That's the last thing any club wants. The terraces are empty enough already,,, At a time when stupid decisions are creating havoc with the sport, to me, this is another one to add to the list.........This decision will benefit no one.....

It appears to me whoever you pick he's on the HL lists. When we were told of this highly secret list, there were only suppose to be 24 names. It seems to me every rider is now on the list. It must be terribly difficult for the Team Managers to assemble a squad. Not only have most of the top riders not available, what we have left we cant use them cause most are heat leaders. I suggest we make everyman a heatleader and each have an accessed average of 6pts Raise the Team Points limit to 42, points and everybody will be equal. Once a rider has scores his 6pts he than starts of 15mtrs.... Sorted......

Probably my wording in (post 500) has been misconstrued. When it was said that Michael Lee put a thousand on the gate we were talking much bigger gates than we get now. When talking with Alan Littlechild, he admitted the average gate being about 2000 plus, but when Michael rode, he would always attract around the 3000 mark. My comment was to highlight the fact that star name puts bums on seats, NOT THAT EVERY TOP RIDER PUT 1000 ON THE GATE. In Niels case it would have considerably less as the numbers now are quite low, but nevertheless a percentage would go solely because Niels as there....... What did we win..... We won respect, and expectation from the opposition. Kings Lynn also gained recognition from around the globe because of Niels exploits on the world Stage....

As a seasoned follower of the sport it really disappoints me when we lose the cream riders. I hear all this talk about 4 riders, racing round with no brakes, but that don't pull in the punters. Its the star riders fans come to see. You can't charge top dollar for a product that doesn't have top riders. Without top riders we may as well be watching Premier League Years ago, it was said that Michael Lee would put a thousand on the gate, no problem. Its been the same with all the top riders at Lynn, and Niels was no different. Even when watching the young Stars, supporters would come just to watch the new sensation in Robert Lambert. The problem now with the sport, based on decisions made by the BSPA in driving these top riders away, will have a detriment effect on the appeal to the fans and the numbers will continue to dwindle. I know many fans who only went to marvel at Niels in full flow.... Getting an instant replacement will be virtually impossible....... I just hope, with a drop-off in numbers, the sport can survive these troubled times.....

You say that with so much thought and kindness........ an sarcasm Such wonderful supporters out there......... with Niels not riding, not only damages the Stars side but also the whole of the Elite League concept.

I hope that now the BSPA has driven all the top boys away, they're happy. We can revert back to being unimportant..... What was the saying about ' Piss up on a brewery', Better keep that a secret too....... Just great.!. Niels was our team, and you come out with crap like that............

A Any chance of having a good team has just disappeared. .

Wow !! that's a new one....... Never been called that before. When I use to work, was always up and about before 6. Now retired, I take thing more easily. Still up early though....... The papers don't get delivered till 8.

What time of day do we expect the news? Now gone 6.30am and still waiting to hear. Papers are dropped off in the town at 4.30, pity the Web-site wasn't up at the same time.... ...

Once upon a time a Doctors certificate was not necessary because all excuses were genuine .....

I think you're missing the point here. Good ole Matt Ford has highlighted a way for managers and Promoters to legalise the non appearance of riders when accompanied by a Doctors certificate...

Surely, two clubs as close as these two, could run on alternate weeks. When the League eventually goes to specific nights, this would be a ideal situation when supporter s from both clubs could follow the sport on a weekly basis. I very often go to EESG to support Peterborough as well as Lynn. Having a weekly fix would be brilliant.....

You know that, I know that, and no doubt so does Buster as well. Niels is that good his inclusion would make an ordinary team very good. Unfortunately they're not many top No1's available, so the choices are few. Looking through the team announcements so far, we don't have many true No1's and most teams seem to have a strong middle order. Probably that's the way Buster and Rob have chosen to go...... Either way; I have faith, in that Buster will put together a decent team, he could even pull a rabbit out of the bag, and bring in someone new and exciting from Poland. We will have to wait and see. There's still no announcement of the date for the Supporters meeting yet!! .... or have I missed it????

Although, never been a member of the Ford appreciation society, one has to admit the signings for next year shows brilliant awareness and puts all other promoters to shame. The signing of Andersen was a masterstroke, a quality rider on a workable average. Buczkowski was another example of positive thinking. Destined to be a big scorer and will benefit big time, from his previous experiences in the Elite League. Kurtz was the signature everyone wanted. so hats off to Ford for acclaiming a brilliant youngster.. Constantly exchanging places with Newman at reserve , he will come on in leaps and bounds.... Not one to blow sunshine up his arse, but , after doing some astute work, what's the betting that he will undo all the positives he done by breaking rules that pisses everyone off.... Is there any need ???????

Freddie has quite a few good years left in him yet. Form is temporary but class is permanent . In this watered down League of ours Freddie fit the bill perfectly. OK there might be one or two better than Freddie, but not many... He'll finish in the top rank of riders......

Having a Heat leader list is a mockery. How can anyone name 24 riders as heatleaders before any one has been signed.? What happens when a rider, not on the list (foreign ex.) signs for a team. ? does that mean the list is altered ? What happens to someone on the list who cant get a place as a heat leader? ... Do we tell him to sod-off ? Why did we ditch the 7 point plan? I know the CMA are laughable but everyone knew the rules and Team Managers could work around them. This way, the heatleader list could change every day, and teams already on the boil could prove too have too many Heat leaders. The secrecy of the list highlights what is so desperately wrong with our sport. Making complicated secret rules, just shows contempt to those remaining fans there are left. .