luluthetiger

Must be costing a fortune in appearance fees, was my first thought

All correct, but even if your boy wants to go to Swindon (and double down to Somerset, who are a bit unlucky here but did presumably believe what Mr Patchett was saying, which might have been a little naive) if the Swindon promotion are unable/unwilling to stump up promised cash then it is clear he can go anywhere he wants except Blunsdon! After this affair, are Glasgow likely to agree to trust Swindon on any deal?

It has been well-reported that for the past four seasons, the collection at Berwick raised the most of any club in any league. Four solid years, and their fans (and the visitors' supporters on each of the four chosen nights, which were in each case different northern clubs) donated the biggest totals. Not once, but four straight seasons. So Berwick, their supporters and the other northern clubs' fans, most certainly deserve this meeting, and it will be a success in terms of raising money for the BenFund.

Beatons? Dicksons?

Its going to draw fans from all the northern tracks, faithful speedway folk who have trekked hundred of miles south for years to every big meeting under the sun since they took the ELRC away from Belle Vue. It is just as far from (say) Coventry to Berwick as it is from Berwick to Coventry. You just wouldn't think so at times.

So Glasgow -- and their rider-asset, Nick Morris -- are made to suffer because of a playground squabble between Peterborough and Swindon? Bad, bad situation. Nothing to do with Troy Batchelor -- who might yet end up at Poole, and wouldn't that be ironic -- but a clear case of a promise broken, and innocent clubs (Glasgow and Somerset) messed about, less than a fortnight before the official start of the season. When you do a deal and shake hands, you really shouldn't have to count your fingers afterwards.

People within speedway were aware of the problem, it is to the old Glasgow promotion's credit they kept quiet until now. Swindon, it seems, have no credit anywhere. Especially at the bank! If another club -- in either league -- approaches Glasgow with ready money, Nick Morris will be there, and it might not suit a purchaser to then loan him on to the Rebels. Certainly, if they really want him at the OTA, they will have to talk to Glasgow about buying him -- as he is an asset of the old Glasgow company, they have no interest in any loan deal. They need the cash! As we are all aware, speedway is dangerous, and if a rider is injured early doors, Nick might well get a gig at almost any track. Somerset are unlucky in this deal, as it has to be assumed they didn't know Swindon didn't own the rider.

Or, to cut it short: "We bought Nick Morris with money we don't have. A sort of pyramid scheme. When you turn up for the first meeting, just tell the girl at the turnstiles you will pay her, once your wages come in. After you've got a job. Maybe".

Batchelor to Poole. Cash on the barrelhead. Won't replace Darcy's scoring, but club will save face (and a heap of bad publicity). Morris to another EL club, again cash upfront, then on loan to Somerset. Will move back into EL with new club as soon as their everages can be fiddled (ahem, adjusted) after the first month. Swindon with a record of failing to actually pay for riders they engage (THJ was never paid for, as any Edinburgh source will confirm) have no-one to blame but their hand-shaking boss.

Are these two posts connected?

Where did that quote come from? Berwick, or the BenFund organisers?

Leaving punctuation aside, and hopefully moving into a new season with new and better presentation than Tigers have ever had at Ashfield, what about the Nick Morris situation? He is back as a Glasgow asset, and as Swindon seem a bit untrustworthy, is there any situation which might see Nick back as a Tiger?

As always, Berwick seem prepared to move on, fine-tune an already good product rather than standing still. Adding the local guy makes sense if he's a DJ, it will let the Bandits explore different things in presentation. This now adds up, when I remember a conversation involving Dick Barrie after Jason Lyons Testimonial last year. He said he was hoping to step back from regular announcing "before the men in white coats arrive to take me away". If he is going to offload some of the work at the meetings, while continuing to give Berwick the benefit of his vast experience, it seems that's a win-win situation.

With Steady likely to be winning, or at least contesting at the front of his races, whoever gets the short straw and rides at No 2 will have a tough time scoring big points. When a team has a big-hitting No 1, the No 2 tends to be fighting over scraps. Expect a revolving door between that race-jacket and the reserve positions, especially as the riders involved (Knight, Albin and Koppe) have no rolling averages to cushion them, and all three will quickly revert to actual scores.

Commercial/Marketing manager is Julie Newton (julie@berwickbandits.co) Press/Media Officer is Lawrence Heppell (lawrence_heppell@hotmail.com) If you're talking Saturday night meeting presentation, that would be Dick Barrie (dick@berwickbandits.co)

Who did you write to?

Interesting times at Glasgow. Fresh ideas from new promotion. Michael Max certainly "retired" at the end of term. and whether he jumped or was pushed, won't be back. Suggestions of a return by Dick Barrie (clearly well-thought-of by the new guys) are incorrect. He has admitted he was approached a while back, but declined the role. So stand by for a fresh face, and new voice on Easter Sunday!

Before everyone gets too nit-picky, remember that it wasn't too long ago bonus points were included in CMA figures. Hence, it is now harder to achieve a higher average, even when scoring the equivilent number of points. Let's get on, season starts (for northern folk) in four weeks time..............

Well put, Rob. While in no way blaming TT personally, his organisers have been disrespectful to the much-needed Benevolent Fund by luring big names who would otherwise have honoured the Bonanza, by "making a better offer" to go the Saddlebow Road. But the BenFund meeting, it should be highlighted, will still have as good a field (remember more names are to be announced) as any meeting staged at Berwick, or anywhere in the north in years and years. With the added incentive to people from all over Britain to attend, see a bunch of riders who are not known for "just going through the motions" putting on the style for the very best of good causes.

Damn right they would! But what sticks in the craw is that the two testimonials are paying good appearance fees to the big guys, while the BenFund (for the best of reasons) has always offered only travelling expenses.

A very good point about riders who decline to support the BenFund not getting benefits. Topinka himself has had a couple of injuries in the past few seasons -- did he get help then? Riders who have appeared in maybe two or three past BenFund meetings can be excused, but there are big names who have managed to miss every one.

Pot. Kettle.

Fricke, Ringwood, Koppe, Horwood and Douglas. That's four? Don't disagree, but sadly too many of the other "foreigners" are EC citizens and, until Mr Cameron's promised referendum, they can flood in here to work (or race) willy-nilly. Even more intriguingly, if Alex Salmond's referendum next year splits Scotland away from England and one side or the other is rendered as outwith the EC.............

If the process is that clear-cut, can you explain Tyson Nelson and Travis McGowan's not reaching these shores last season?

So Joey Ringwood has also now been approved. So why did three other rookies get in first time, but the two Tigers had to go to appeals?