Double Up

If, and only if, Cradley lost money last season it would have been as a result of the number of rain off encountered after the stadium had opened and/or racing had started. They had some cruel luck with the weather last season.

Every other club in the NL subsidised the cost of Scunthorpe running in the NL last year by virtue of the fact that their team was so weak. That's no slant on the riders who gave it their best shot but surely means that there ought to be a minimum team building limit as well as a maximum to ensure that teams are competitive and not whipping boys.

Forgot that, over £300 a meeting I'm told!!

The costs of staging a meeting don't stop with paying the stadium rent. The meeting and the riders have to be insured, the track has to be prepared (shale bought, plant hired, curator paid). Referee is charged as are administration fees from the sport. That's not to mention the entry fee to the league and the cash bond that has to be lodged with the BSPA. Oh and then there's the airfence. Conservatively 20k for a new one which would last 5 years, maybe. That on it's own depreciates at 4k a year, without repairs! It adds up, and a good deal quicker than you seem to think.

Will they, won't they? Wouldn't be the first time Lakeside promised to join and didn't.

NL AGM is Dec 9th

It might just about cover the overheads of staging the meeting but wouldn't even scratch the surface of paying the riders

I'm told Sandwell have been tried too and whilst they appear more accommodating than Dudley it still hasn't led to anything positive.

This is, without doubt, a club with amongst the biggest heritage in the whole of the sport. Numerous World Champions emerged from Dudley Wood in the 80's and 90's. Since it was reborn in 2010 it has finished top of the NL in 4 out of 5 seasons and in the last two won every competition it has entered. The Heathens have attracted crowds that are the envy of almost every team in the Premier League and many in the Elite League. The supporters travel in numbers to every away meeting and, therefore, the benefit is enjoyed by all. Yet, many former supporters couldn't bring themselves to watch their phoenix team race at Monmore Green because of past rivalries. Similarly, others perceived the 'new' club to be a bit 'Mickey Mouse' competing in the National League. Speedway in this country is dying. It needs new ideas and new impetus if it is to survive at anything above grass roots level. Good news stories are hard to come by and yet the biggest story in recent years find themselves in a position where they might not be able to race in 2015. Tony Mole has declared he has shelved plans to resurrect speedway at Perry Barr next season after the Brummies were annulled in July. So within a ten mile radius there is a club without a track and a track without a club. The difference between the two clubs is this, and I mean no offence when making these observations. Cradley have a massive heritage, both on and off the track. The club was hugely successful as a team and launched the careers of numerous world champions. Birmingham, however, never had that history and heritage to fall back on when they were relaunched in 2007 and several promotions have failed to make the Brummies viable at Perry Barr. Can the Brummies ever be viable at Perry Barr? My question is this: Although Heathens supporters didn't support NL speedway in the same numbers at Perry Barr in 2010 as they did at Monmore (the difference was probably 100-150) would they embrace the venue as a permanent home? With the search for a permanent home entering its 20th year here is a venue that is crying out for a tenant. I'm not suggesting that the search for a base in the Black country be abandoned but, lets face it, are we any closer to that now than at any time since Oldnall Road? Perry Barr could give the club, and more importantly its supporters, the long term security they crave. Cradley,as tenants of Perry Barr, might also give the opportunity for the Brummies to ride at a level that they could sustain, i.e. National League. I would assume it unlikely that National League speedway would be viable there without another club riding at the same the same level or higher in order that overheads could be shared. I'm sure it's not as easy as saying 'let's go and race there' and there must be serious consideration given to the costs involved by those taking the plunge. For me though, it's a no brainer providing the conditions could be met. Perry Wood? Dudley Barr? Does anyone give a monkey's what home is called as long as we've got one?

Jim Lynch is one, of many, who've previously been involved in the sport but now stand on the periphery. It's easy to criticise from afar, and I stand to be corrected, but has he ever had his own money invested in the sport? Of the last two clubs he managed Reading closed, shortly after he and BSI abandoned it, and Peterborough have been through god knows how many different promotions since, with their future still in doubt. I hardly think he is the person to suggest where the sport is going wrong.

Not accepting any excuses regarding what might have been. Horton had God knows how many opportunities to stage this meeting. Granted the EL final rain off came into the equation but surely the arrangement he has with Sandhu guarantees him every Friday within the season. Storm were beaten by the better team fair and square and given the form shown over the season any other result would have been a massive injustice Fantastic facility and shows what can be achieved with a sympathetic council. If only. However, from a blank canvas they've made a huge mistake. Maybe Mr. Hemsley thought something akin to a bigger cycle speedway track was what was needed. Wouldn't be the first or last time he thought he knew best.

Was in Italy

Forecast is clear after 2. Reckon we'll be ok

Always welcome at Cradley Bryn. Bit closer too!!

I heard a whisper last night that some clubs are calling for a bigger share of the spoils because they consider they are a more attractive proposition than others and feel they should be compensated for appearing on television more!!

Greyhound, having read the NL tread on Facebook it appears that there wasn't the interest from the IOW shareholders to even attend last nights meeting. Only a quarter of the 200 could be bothered. That speak volumes. Kevin Sheoherd has voiced his suspicions that there is a seperate agenda from the Board members that has yet to become apparent. What is clear though is that the club hasn't not closed because of the cost oft an airfence. That money would have been found if fit were the be all and end all. The greater issue is the attendance figures and no club can sustain speedway on gates of 150 or so. Ironically the Island team dropped into to NL because it couldn't makes ends meet in the PL on gates of 500 odd. That shows that the support was there then, if not now. That they have been unable to keep those fans in a lower league might suggest the supporters don't appreciate racing at a lower level. One thing is for sure though, Chris Hunt and Kevin Shepherd couldn't have done anymore than they did to keep the club alive. Ultimately the lack of support is what's closed the doors. Every club is a victim of local supporter apathy to some extent and it remains to be seen whether there is any clamour locally for the return of the club. There seems to be more support for the Island from the wider speedway community than there is in their own backyard!!

This is great news for the National League and fair play to Matt Ford for identifying (not before time) the need to invest in British youth. This doesn't mean that he has an exclusive on riders brought on by Scunthorpe, as they can still only protect one asset per season, in the draft. It just means he has first option. Ford is tapping into the talent identified by the training schools at Scunny - nothing more.

Steady?

Fixture doesn't appear in Swindon's fixtures which surprised me as the holders defend it. Doesnt't appear on Poole list either? Has it been ditched? Would be a pointless exercise to me as every club needs a warm up meeting and what better than with some silverware at stake?

I don't think there's any need for that. I can't see it being anyone but Paul. It'll bring the best out of him too as he's determined to lead from the front this year.

Tia? Womens speedway?

Look in the history books. They will show who was crowned World Champion in 2013. For sure Darcy et al won't be thinking they were the best. For them second place is first loser. The want gold medals only.

Only one position still to be confirmed. Thoughts on who should be Captain? Big boots to fill after last year but for me there's only one person to do the job.

Don't forget that if the team had been that which was originally planned Steve Worrall would have been at #1 and Nathan definitely have been back at reserve. Having had to revise plans after the Kurtz issue we've got back Starkey and clearly the promotion have decided that it was more important to have Nathan back, even in the top 5, than get him to reserve, which might happen after 4 meetings in any event.

Well said greyhound. Lots to like about this team. Strength at top and bottom and home and away. As others have said nothing is won in January but this team will definitely be there or thereabouts. For me it's the team to beat.