Hamish McRaker

Hopefully not TOO odd🤔😙

Well let's just suppose i had temporarily lost my marbles during the early part of January, and on the basis of BSP Ltd's statement assuring of a minimum 5 team league, had decided to invest a sum of money in BSP Ltd and/or in Speedway Futures (Ltd?). Then, having made my investment, i subsequently began to have serious and well-founded suspicions that at the time of making its public statement, BSP Ltd could not have been certain that a 5-team league would actually be going ahead, i'd have been pretty hopping angry and i'd have been asking urgent questions to BSP Ltd's directors. One key question i'd have asked BSP Ltd's directors, would have been did C.Louis give a legally watertight assurance that, in the event of a sale of Ipswich speedway not being completed by, say, 5th April 2026, he would continue to run the club as an active PL member until such time as the club's sale had been completed. And if the BSP Ltd's directors could not have provided that evidence to satisfy my needs, i'd have been initiating processes to have them suspended and hopefully struck off as Company Directors. Ive no beef or suspicions about Ioswich speedway Ltd or with C.Louis, by the way

So to repeat, this would seem to infer that C.Louis would have continued to operate Ipswich in the PL, in the event of a sale of his business not having been achieved and completed. If that was not the case, surely the BSPL statement would have been misleading, unless C.Louis had given BSPL such a guarantee?

Of course businesses change hands, as an investor i know that. So, are you saying that, if C.Louis had not found a suitable buyer or if any proposed transaction had not been completed before the start of the 2026 season, he would have continued to run Ipswich speedway in the Premier league? Really?

So ISPL "made a commitment" to run, even though its proprietor had apparently said previously that he was walking away from involvement in the sport with immediate effect? And BSPL incorporated that "commitment" into their statement that a minimum 5 team league would happen? Really?

Was it "Ipswich" that made the commitment, as legally at that time, the owner was probably C.Louis who had made his intentions (or rather his non-intentions) very clear. In which case did the BSPL knowingly make that announcement without being on safe and solid ground, taking a risk on the sale proceeding to satisfactory completion and keeping fingers crossed behind their backs?

It's sad, so sad, it's a sad, sad situation, and it's getting more and more absurd

No i think it was Morrissey

Similar to the frog in a pot of water that's slowly heating up. It becomes comfortable and doesnt notice the progression towards its demise, or it's death when it inevitably happens

Are there different threads? If so you could start one on speedway and thus begin the eventual demise of Curling as a credible sport!

Mark Webber and Jason Crump?

Is there a possibility that having 6 teams could salvage a tv deal (albeit a limited one) in 2026, thus providing a contribution towards the setting-up costs? But as well as the question of lack of support base and lead-up promotion & marketing, theres also the question of product quality. Whilst the sub-surface of the track should be fine (no hidden nappies), the first season at a new track is notorious for revealing previously unforseen problems. So many new tracks throughout speedway's history have failed due to such problems being insurmountable. And whereas Ipswich should be okay once their supporters get dialled into their new-look team, you do wonder about the possible quality of a 6th team, after the recent experiences of Birmingham, Kings Lynn and Oxford coming to mind. A 6-team league that features a lame duck side is asking for big trouble, not just for that club

I think there should be a march organised around Rugby next weekend, to protest for the release of the Premiership fixture lists. Get Amnesty International involved, surely this illegal detention must be drawn to the national attention!!

Who needs the actual season? 😃

Only saw him on tv but Ward was different gravy when he had all his ducks in a row. Had 360 vision and knew what was going to happen several seconds ahead of his opponents, and team riding ability par excellence.

Yes its like they have an F1 mentality to something that in real terms is more like Banger racing. It feeds down from the GP level, which has become ridiculous as its competitors seek out ever more technological and mechanical enhancements to gain a fractional improvement. Needs a radical change but cant see it happening, sadly

I get the impression he's a bit "neurologically different" as i think the correct expression is these days. I doubt he'd have achieved what he has, and rebounded from so many setbacks, and maybe be as sweary, if he wasnt built a bit that way

It reminds me of the song by the late great Tom Lehrer... "We'll all go together when we go"

Accepting that the Premier league is going ahead in 2026, I'd like Martin Vaculik to be in the league. Ive no idea what his availability might be, but he seems quite a charismatic and good guy, and may have unfinished business from his previous short-lived attempt with Leicester

Relax, somebody will be in the no.1 position

It's probably a cunning scheme done in conjunction with Amazon or JD Sports, to sign people up to do "voluntary work" and they get loaded onto battered old coaches and taken off to work a night shift for no money.

Northampton Cobbledtogethers have announced their exciting new team to take on the 2026 Premiership. Spearheaded by the new Norwegian sensation, Redd Herring, the Cosmopolitan line-up will also include; Nevva Urdavim Legg Traylor Lass Tagane Myles B. Hind Novvi Swobbla Ove Andout

Northampton Nofans

If the heads are in good working condition, then maybe so. But are they?

Have to say it makes it less likely, and if it does happen more likely to be 2027, otherwise 2026 could be financial folly especially with no time to do pre-season marketing and promotion. At least it probably means Ipswich has gone from 99% to 99.9%