Hamish McRaker

Or the microwave doesnt work!

It's an oven-ready meal (or soon will be)

More like Lord Lemon, Captain Buster and Fabulous Phil! And hats off to them and any others involved in the venture. Leicester's existence today owes much to Chapman's rescue act after the Hemsley train-crash when he cleared the debts so that Bates and Machin could come in and take over a cleaned-up mess. Lemon's may be the only name appearing on the Companies House records as Director of NS Ltd, but i'd bet Chapman and Morris are "ipso facto" directors and raised the money to fund the setting up and initial operating costs. They'll be looking to sell asap, get their money back, and exit stage left. The Promoters are in place to fulfil requirements of SCB/ACU and when new owners and directors of NS Ltd take over (whenever that is, but probably soon as possible after the season starts), they'll either disappear back off and be replaced, but more likely stay to provide continuity.

As things slowly emerge, for me they seem to confirm the "consortium" are looking to sell it on asap after the start and recoup their financial outlay. Possibly already is a party waiting in the wings. Hence minimal marketing and promotion, likewise budget team. As for the bizarre choice of Foxes for the team name, maybe Harry Redknapp has worked his contacts book a bit more by lining up Samantha Fox to front-up the "grand opening" on the 30th, perhaps with Linda Lusardi making it a twosome (or foursome)

Northampton Speedway Ltd company formed on 20 March 2026. Only one Director listed : Mark Lemon

Zagar must have dropped his pay rates by quite a lot, to be affordable. (compared to what he was rumoured to be on at BV)

Might depend on how old you are. In amateur era the local enemy used to be Coventry, but i know from mid 1990's in the professional era it's been Northampton (i still know many active Tigers supporters).

Maybe if his comeback is going ok, and Northampton is still going by then, DJ Woffy might be a possibility to give things a boost from mid season?

Presumably you're not including Rugby Union in that?

It crossed my mind too but theyve been defunct (competing-wise) for a long time and anyway arent exactly in same neck of the woods, Shirley😌

Basso and Bangs would have been good at Northampton. At least the stadium isnt due to be demolished or the landlords wanting to evict. These days, that's a major advantage

Sounds logical to me. In Bandit Country So hopefully all of the fans from the old Flying Foxes days and their descendents will be connecting and turning up in good numbers.

I know Northampton/shire quite well. Has always seemed to consist of multiple identities to me. East Midlands? East Anglia? Greater London? Scots over in Corby. Landowning wealth in rural towns and villages. A mish mash of those plus a growing immigrant population. Whichever direction you take when leaving Northampton, youre going into a different area with its own, stronger, identity. Names of sports clubs do matter, and i suspect those behind this project have very limited knowledge of the East Midlands. Id advise them to have a rethink!

Best to ask Reg Fearman or Alan Jones why Lions name was chosen in 1968. Leicester Tigers name goes back to 1880 and the local regiment after which the club was named. Leicester City FC has had Fox identity for a long time (I'm no football historian) but have used it increasingly in marketing since maybe 40 years ago. Leicestershire CCC has had Fox badge for as long as i can recall and like LCFC the club has increased its use in marketing and "brand identity". When Leicester Speedway was reborn in 2011, LCFC and LCCC had the Fox branding well and truly established and so it rightly continued the Lions branding even with a 28 year gap, regardless of why the name had been chosen in 1968. Leicester/shire is something of a sporting Mecca, and it would be very messy if all of them were called "Foxes"! But even so, Leicester/shire sport does have a strong Fox identity, and its attempted appropriation by Northampton speedway is a terrible and unbelievable mistake. Should be Falcons in my opinion

Falcons. Historical link to Falconry