SteveLyric2

Can you please point me in the direction of the 2019 rules!!?

In the Chris Harris interview in this week's Speedway Star, he reckons he is still waiting for payment for 9 meetings for Rye House!!

Just throwing this in - any chance of Krzysztof Buczkowski?

Poole v Kings Lynn, Elite Shield, Thursday 11th April - Pirates' first meeting of 2019!! Announced at the fans quiz last night! (PS, Referee Craig Ackroyd - hopefully!!!?? )

I couldn't disagree more. Chris is hungry again and with much progress with many of his off-track issues, he can now focus on his speedway again. Just need the UK visa situ to be finally and fully sorted and we'll see him back racing at the top in the Premiership again.

Not exactly how Speedway Updates called it but at least they both beat Lidsey and Masters. Good to see Brady make the final though and in 5th place overall. Great to see 3 Poole assets in the top 5 after 4 rounds!

The decision to go with race bibs in 2018 was to reflect the 70th Anniversary - that logo was then reflected in a load of new merchandise and will be retained as part of the club design. MF has already stated that team kevlars are a possibility for 2019 and he may consider each set being sponsored by/auctioned off to individuals - subject I guess to whether there is any main team branding or if one of the existing sponsors is given more prominence. Its not as if Poole were the only team not to have team kevlars last season!! Just to be clear, money isn't tight at Poole - its just currently tighter than it has been in recent seasons and yes that is possibly also to do with MF publicly wishing to step away (which he won't do if he doesn't get a suitable buyer!). Finding a suitable buyer and having a trusted day-to-day management/promotion team in place for when he's away I would suggest is higher up his list of priorities than getting a main sponsor. (NB. Still plenty of time for both!) The club hasn't run at a loss for many seasons - despite the horrendous losses due to rain-offs at the start of last season. The 'loss' of the 2017/18 Main sponsor - Poole Volvo - was somewhat expected as it was only a 2-year deal. What has put MF on the back foot somewhat is the loss of the 2 other sponsoring companies - both of which are due to financial pressures in their respective businesses. In one case it is due to a major costly business expansion which has currently led to a withdrawal of all sponsorship - not just speedway. What annoys me somewhat are the continual jibes from so-called Poole fans - I expect it from opposition 'fans'! - when the 2019 team retains 4 of the successful 2018 team, thereby retaining some continuity, brings back a club asset and at the same time manages to do it within the 42.50 team building limit, by losing 2.5 points from the 2018 ending team - and we're still only in January - 3 months before Poole's season commences. Rant over. COYP

I would venture to suggest that Poole's current sponsors probably put them on a par with most if not all Premiership clubs.

I thought we were supposedly vulnerable in heats 13 and 15 in 2018 - yet not only did we make the play-offs but we won the Premiership trophy too.

Did I not read the bulk of this post about 3 weeks ago??

Don't forget the track staff, officials, St.Johns (or whoever) would also like to get a cuppa and/or to have a pee!!

Happy Birthday Middlo!!

Actually thats not strictly true either!! One of the Pirates sponsors is a company - Meridian Lifts. One of its senior employees has made his own personal views public on the issue of illegal immigration - he has tended to be quite outspoken on several issues in the past (no issue with that - everyone is entitled to their opinion) - some of them even Speedway-related!! PS. First round of the Aussie Championships tomorrow. Poole already have the Argentinian Champion so good luck Brady and Jack (and Chris of course)

Anyway today MF explains on the club website the reasoning behind not retaining Kacper Woryna for the start of this coming season. Money and team building options within the remaining points available.

I think its his wife that does the sponsorship. He lists speedway as an 'interest' - but she probably has to drag him along to meetings??!!

Front page and page 3 of the New Year's Day local Echo, stressing its a personal view and nothing to do with his company?!. Towards the end of the 'story' (slow news day!!) its mentioned about his company being a Pirates' sponsor. Attempts made to contact MF for comment but unable to.!

I wonder what stance the likes of Hans Andersen and Kyle Newman will take - depending on their own point of view - about their main sponsor's comments??

Lets hope we don't get any injuries then!! You make it sound as though Poole only have one sponsor?! Nothing is further from the truth. As said before Matt is simply working to a revised budget at the moment.

Maybe its the new main sponsor?! I think I've been introduced to their new CEO - Daniel Druff?!

Yeah and Grandad is getting very pee'd off with it!!

For those that may still be waiting for this week's Speedway Star, theres a good 3 page interview with Chris Holder about some of the off'track stuff thata affected him over the past 2 years. It doesn't give the full detail on everything as some of it is still subject to legal but it does confirm that he is staying in Andorra at the moment as they have a more relaxed visa system, even though longer term he wants to return to live and race in UK. ps. He had a good maximum points win at Kurri Kurri yesterday winning the Jason Crump Invitational. His brother Jack winning the 'B' final and then 4th in the 'A' final.

As he has already explained he doesn't have to pay for flights, accommodation, mechanics etc for Josh or Richie whereas he would (and did) for Kasper and Freddie. In fact he won't have to do that for any of the 1-7 next season. Merely cutting the cloth accordingly for 2019. Losing some sponsorship probably only puts Poole on a similar level to the other 6 clubs!!

Get it right. My post on the Poole thread said he knew virtually all the teams line-ups. If you can't read it properly you are simply proving your first statement above to be correct. Still not long to wait til the New Year for the Witches announcements.......(according to twitter)

Its only a 'number 1' that Louis is having trouble with and finding a number one with a higher average than Tungate's 7.61 is going to be a challenge for any club.