SteveLyric2

With all this talk about rolling starts, I thought I'd found myself on a Swindon thread!!?

What about the Pawlickis that you mentioned earlier!!?

No worries - the crowds will still flock in to watch Tai's replacement.........Lukasz Sowka!!!!

Don't mind KevTheRev, Starman - he's just upset that Davey Watt still lives in Poole!!

Surely your Davey Watt comment should be under the 'positives'!!!

You must be much older than you seem!!!

The introduction of a European Champions League for speedway - which has been talked about but not progressed for the past 2 years at least - is something that Sky were very interested in. There are surely a couple or three EL clubs that would be keen or can afford to participate, so maybe something of that nature plus the play-offs is what we might have to get used to as far as TV is concerned! Maybe the Polish Marketing company behind the SEC could develop the concept and get Eurosport or BT Sport to show it?!

Good to see this thread still giving everyone a lift!!!!!

Whether the sport gets any sort of TV deal or not for 2014, it must not detract from a major move to cut costs - for everyone! Undoubtedly this will not all happen in one go, but there has to be a dramatic plan that every club signs up to and agrees to stick with - even if a TV deal comes in at a later stage! One huge problem imo is if a 'big money' sponsorship deal (TV or not)is secured, then many promoters will use the cash to offset past financial losses, rather than to improve the promotion and presentation of a value-for-money product!! (ps. Which is what has happened to much of the Sky money in the past, other than that which has been passed on to riders and onward to tuners etc in inflated payments!!)

As a committed Poole fan, you should know that there is no 'H' in Tomas!! And as a number of Poole fans have been saying all season, the rider order should be changed, BUT not now - its too late in the season to start changing things as riders are used to their pairings - unless its r/r for THJ of course?!

Why isn't Tai riding - if he's in the European meeting on Sunday, as is being suggested in a number of reports??

Very good article in this week's SS from David Helmsley the Leicester promoter - who has re-stated his wish intention for Leicester to be in the 'top' league next year. Plus some other interesting opinions..........

Once again, the point is not about televised meetings - whoever does it (or not) - more a question of how much they are prepared to pay for the product!

Looking at the respective weather forecasts for Monday, I hope the one set of BSPA track covers is at Wimborne Road!!!

So what would your solution be for the following year (2015), when all these riders have vastly inflated averages??

1.The envelopes are a different colour??? 2.Jimmy Nilsson is to old to race now!! 3. Ummmm....Nah haven't got a third!

Nice try Steve0 - but it still doesn't give them more than one vote each - even the pigs!!

..and you're not assuming much either???!! The 'fifteen times before' comment covers all the Sky years and a few more when the economy was booming. Prices were increased and fans paid the increase in the early days 15 years ago. That is not the case now. There is not the money around to pay top riders - the sport HAS to cut its cloth accordingly and make it cheaper (better VFM) for fans to watch. Most people are saying how much better the PL meetings have been (certainly the televised ones). They don't have any of the 'top' riders yet the racing and entertainment have been fine - it just needs a more realistic entry fee!

If you really think that promoters haven't already looked at 'draft' proposals for next year, then you are really barking right up the wrong tree. Its what the BSPA pre-AGM is for - aside from the MC meetings. That's where the rumours of a better fixture list have come from - from 3 or 4 different Promoter sources! One of the problems will be getting all the proposals voted in at the AGM, as all EL and PL clubs have one equal vote each!

If only you lived by your own statements!!

Excellent post - and on the right thread too!! Its about time some of the other promoters got off there a***s and looked for lots of 'extra' sponsorship!! Why should it mean less fans? If the racing is good and the price is right and its properly and effectively promoted, then there's every chance fans will come back especially if the team is successful!

I have a theory that its in the rules that a meeting result can be called after heat 10 - but it could be a conspiracy on my part?!

I think an answer has already been given for this - by Tsunami I think - on another thread!!? Its to do with 'final accounts' for all clubs being available and approved! Not sure I totally agree with that, as I know of many 'national associations' that are membership-driven, that use 'projected' final figures at their AGM, which can then be adjusted slightly if necessary afterwards! I guess one of the big problems is how much the BSPA funds have had to be used to 'bail-out' clubs (or keep them going) and what the chances are of those funds being topped up again?! This is clearly being clouded by the additional uncertainty over the Sky contract/monies!!!

Great post!!

Any chance that we might be able to keep this thread on topic??!! Poole will do very well to keep the 2nd leg 'interesting'. Swindon are much stronger throughout and should be able to keep it closer than 10 points - if not actually win it! In any case, the script is already written for a Brummies v Robins final, cos they both are in desperate need of the money!!!