The Dog

He's a smashing lad with a really likeable temperament and a willingness to listen and learn, but sadly never seems to figure in anybodies plans at the start of a season. I think he can go a long way in the sport.

Maybe their happy to bankroll it and plug the holes with their own cash. Who knows what people think nowadays...

Depends how you view 'hugely employable'. To me, someone unreliable and happy to let his paymasters and team mates down at short notice causing you a major headache and making you scrat around for a replacement makes him 'hugely unemployable' in my view, couldn't care how low his average is. Not beneficial if he keeps going missing... Personally I think the authorities should start adding half a point to a riders average everytime they become unavailable without a valid reason to protect clubs a bit

Says it all about speedway sadly....

Whilst the sequence of events last night was unfortunate and unprecedented, there never seems to be a meeting or week goes by where something shambolic happens and this is why fans walk away or vent their frustration on here. Nobody seems to learn from each others mistakes and it's getting to the point of no return. And this is the sport overall and not just aimed at Sheffield!!

Certainly won't want to be throwing another 250k+ at a season of racing, though I would still like to see a breakdown of the outgoings to understand how anybody gets to be putting those figures in

I too was absolutely gobsmacked at the amount of money put in, how or why you would invest that much for no return whatsoever is lunacy. The tail wags the dog in speedway. History tells you that successful business people like Mr Tolley, Rick Frost, Allen Trump and Mick Horton to name a few, have struggled with our sport over the years so their is a major flaw in the way speedway operates and it needs to change before we lose it altogether.

And a lot of the 2nd halfers were all local riders which boosted the crowd a little bit and gave them an affiniation with the clubs and fans. If your mates doing something, then generally you want to try it, and I think this is where speedway is missing a trick. It won't solve all speedways problems but it might encourage new blood and every little helps atm

Cook not handle the grippy track again?

Any reason given as to why Cook was withdrawn?

Permanent signings and try and be as close as possible to the injured riders average

I tend to agree here, if your paying your riders more than the gate receipts then that is the biggest problem. Sponsorship should be there to help with stuff like airfence panels and running costs for the track, not wages. I don't begrudge riders earnings, it's a very dangerous sport but clubs need to be self funding. I'd love to see a break-down of where the money has actually gone in Birminghams case so we can all understand better. ie, what the bond costs, stadium rent, medical expenses, riders costs etc because only then can you see what's really going on. And this goes for all speedway clubs in an attempt to save the sport. Sadly I don't think we'll ever know.

Ideally the riders should be spread around to the clubs permently using guests or r/r, but we know that won't happen...

Tbh I don't think I would. Let Pearson gain as much experience as possible, not just with speedway but with life experience too. It could just well pay off next season. If Clegg was going to be the difference between making the play offs or not, then worth considering but I don't think that's the case atm

Starke for Auty would be the best option but Starkey will be in demand. Not sure how you would strengthen from the others who were way worse than Birmingham looking at results...

Smacks of Poole wanting to clean up with home advantage

Looking in the same place as Birmingham..

Valid opinion and probably shared by fans of every team nowadays, but sadly there isn't enough riders of similar/decent quality to keep people interested. I've just seen the line up for both teams at Edinburgh tonight and it consists of 4 guests and 2 rr.

I think we are assuming that there are thousands tuning in to a sport that very few, bar diehards, have any interest in or even heard/aware of. The diehards know that the few hundred on the terraces is a normal occurance nowadays. The problem is getting new people to actually watch it on the telly and being impressed enough to go along physically, and that's something that speedway has never really figured out...

Reading the updates, Blair sounds like he shouldn't be near a bike with no brakes.. Has wiped out most of the other riders so far!

Laurence is well liked by riders and promoters alike within speedway and his knowledge of the sport is unquestionable so I don't think he's going anywhere fast tbh. He will always put together the best team possible within the budget he's given too. The Masons always said that getting Laurence in was one of the best things they had done and they've been around the sport a long time. Maybe they could talk Will Pottinger in to help on a short term basis to take the pressure off Laurence if they felt it was needed?

Can't imagine it was too hard for ex British Champion King to pass Complin who hasn't ridden for 9 years on his own track in all honesty...

I'm struggling to get my head around this decision, I loathe to criticise any promotion but this smacks of desperation to complete the team on press day, then penny pinching after 2 home meetings. I don't think there's any blame whatsoever at Ellis door either. I'm sat here shaking my head in disbelief tbh, how this is going to attract fans is beyond me. There's genuinely good people at Birmingham but they do seem to be getting it wrong hand over fist atm which is a real shame.

Tbh, it's only a rumour thats been started so no reason why Ellis shouldn't be riding or get a ban either. Until something official is said, there's not even a story is there...

Only if they bring a programme board with them....