SteveLyric2

Yes one league of the same level but competed for by regional divisions and then play-offs to save on the excessive travelling and costs that other posters have referred to.

Not if the one league is split into regions!!!!

Definitely not about manouvering. with MF now living and working abroad and having had the worst financial year since he bought the club in 1999, due to a combination of issues eg lost sponsorship and lower attendances despite being around the top of the Premiership for much of the past season, he wants to do the best to put the club back on a firm financial footing for his son - Co-promoter Dan Ford - to run in future. As he's said it would be around 25% cheaper to run in the Championship (at its current level) so thats why its one of the options. Unconfirmed reports suggest that a very high proportion of the fan replies are accepting of Championship racing on the basis of a more regular Wednesday fixture list - but we shall have to see what the final outcomes of the AGM are?!

Very much so.....!

And which nights of the week would you have these Premiership meetings take place? And how would you guarantee Premiership-standard riders being available for all the fixtures? Just asking....!

FORDS THANKFUL FOR FEEDBACK 16/10/19 The 2019 SGB Premiership trophy which looks set to be heading back to Swindon with the Robins holding a half-time eight point lead in their play-off final against Ipswich, following their first leg away win in Suffolk on Tuesday night, 49-41, may have been seen at Wimborne Road for the last time. Defending champions Poole had held the trophy since their 2018 success when, then reignining champions, Swindon failed to reach the play-offs and the Pirates beat Somerset in a dramatic semi-final before getting over the line against King's Lynn, but that 8th top flight championship victory under Matt Ford's tenureship might well be their last, as they still consider their options for the 2020 season. The Poole management canvassed supporters for their views as to whether a more varied fixture list and a switch back to Wednesday racing would be a more palatable option if they were to drop to the SGB Championship. That would bring second tier racing to Wimborne Racing back for the first time since their 1990 National League title season and top flight British Speedway a thing of the past. Club owner Matt Ford admitted "We were deeply encouraged by the very many responses we received to the supporter's survey we launched on the website at the weekend which has given us plenty of things to consider but I would emphasise that although we find ourselves at the crossroads at the present time and the club remains for sale, it is our intention to continue with our tenureship until such time as the right offer comes in and so there will be racing, at one level or another, at Wimborne Road in 2020. As I have already mentioned, Dan will be taking much more of a hands-on approach with the club and its day-to-day running and I know that he will be considering many of the suggestions that came out during the survey."

Well done Swindon. Delighted for Rosco and Doyley.

Well at least BV will have some Poole links in 2020.

Come on you Robins!

Who says the new (Eurosport?) TV deal is only for Premiership clubs?

20% lower and yes it has been obvious.

It may be a 'new adventure' for the Ford promotion but not new for those fans of the late 80's. Excellent racing from riders who just seemed to want to entertain themselves and the fans!!

Have you emailed Matt? You haven't got long....!!

Absolutely!! So would most other SGBP clubs - even if some fans from those clubs don't agree!!!

Mine is renewed and pleased that it will be posted shrink-wrapped by the new printers rather than the old brown envelope which never protected the mag from rain!!!

He might be if Poole go Championship and revert to Wednesday night racing!!!! Or maybe Wolves are one of the SGBP clubs who wouldn't want that to happen?

No idea Lisa - couldn't give a flying fig! ...and I didn't put 'flying fig'!!

I think he means the 'stadium on fire' post!!

2 questions that don't seem to have been considered but I'm sure will be a major item at the AGM - 1. If Poole choose Championship, how many other SGBP teams might also drop? 2. If the new TV deal is with Eurosport as rumoured, what level of meetings will they wish to cover live?! ie will it only be SGBP meetings?

Oh did Poole lose to Ipswich? I'd never have guessed - especially on the Poole 2020 thread!!!

as most riders do!!

Ok I'll bite. So Poole's 'problem' this season in finishing top of the league programme was the team manager?! And who exactly is in Swindon's 'long tail' when most knowledgeable fans recognise that Swindon have the strongest top 5 in the league?! And despite Rosco's strong ties to Poole in the past, why would he leave the new Champions when they have a new stadium coming and his family and business are in Swindon?! Middlo will leave Poole when Matt Ford goes and not before and that will suit most if not all Poole fans - he'll want to atleast match Peter Adams' achievements!!!

Poole will be in the top league again in 2020. Their existing (and new?) sponsors and the probability of a new TV contract will certainly support this.

Well done Swindon. Is it over yet? I switched it off after heat 5.

You have to look at the averages (GSA's) when you are team building cos thats how it works!!