JamesB

…but that’s the problem. Until contracts are signed there is no sale of the club and there is no way that Louis can state that the Witches will come to the tapes in 2026 (unless he is prepared to run it in the event of the sale being frustrated). Also, the NDA will not allow him to provide a running commentary on the sale. The only thing he can say is that negotiations continue well but everything is subject to contract, which is exactly what he has said. I still do not understand how the BSPL were able to announce that there will be a minimum of five clubs including the Witches in 2026. I remain with my fingers well and truly crossed.

We are all frustrated, but to be fair to Louis, I don’t there is a great deal he can say at the moment. Firstly, there will a Non Disclosure Agreement in place which stops either party discussing the potential transaction in any detail. Secondly, Financial Due Diligence, Legal Due Diligence and the drafting of contracts all needs to happen which is normally a lengthy process. If they achieve all of the above in 5-6 weeks, which looks likely to be the case, then I think they will have done remarkably well.

I’ve said it on here before and now Louis directly references it in this latest interview. Due Diligence, both Financial and Legal is a critical element of the sale process of any business and takes place after the parties have agreed the terms of the sale/purchase. I will remain nervous until confirmation that contracts have been signed.

I have counted 14 riders (including R/S’s) in declared Premiership line ups who will be doubling up/down in 2026. There are still 14 Premiership places to be filled, so a good few still to be added. Even more if the sixth team materialises. How can speedway in this country cope without doubling up/down? Also, how could one league work if another 15/20 riders had to be found?

If it’s Mayfield then that will put a rocket up the BSPL!

Some interesting wording used in that statement; ‘a sale has been agreed’ and ‘now going through due process’. Does that mean that Financial Due Diligence has been completed or will now be undertaken as part of the ‘due process? FDD can scupper an agreed sale, so if it’s the latter, then I remain a little nervous. Hopefully, it is just referring to completion of the legals.

You’re not buying the line of a sixth team then? 😂

We are confirmed as running - good news. No further details in the AGM statement. Edwards is the RS.

Something always seems to go wrong when our Norfolk brethren start to catch up in a limited way with the sporting achievements of their Suffolk counterparts. I seem to recall that the Budgies couldn’t play in Europe when they finally did qualify. I suppose there might come a day when they win a European competition, the Division 1/Premiership or even the FA Cup. 😀

The statement clearly said that ‘the Premiership will feature a minimum line up of five teams’. Therefore, one of the following must have been true at the time of the announcement: 1. The sale of the Witches was all but done bar the paperwork. or 2. A new team had agreed to run in 2026. Clearly, in light of the Louis update, 1. had not happened. If 2. had happened then would they not have been better off confirming that fact, even if it was subject to formal agreement at the AGM which surely would be a ‘give un’. I am not convinced that either of the above had/have happened. My view is that their preferred outcome is that the sale of the Witches is completed and that they compete in the 2026 Premiership. If this doesn’t happen, then I suspect that there is a cobbled together Plan B that they will fall back on.

That’s some welcome good news. Do you think so? I thought he was happy with just Lynn and didn’t want the additional hassle of another team.

Zmarzlik has finally decided that he needs to improve his small track skills………..😀

I hope you are right in so far as: 1. The Witches come to the tapes next season. 2. We have a good number 1 and competitive team.

Hmmm. I smell something fishy here and it’s not the contents of Baldrick’s apple crumble.

Are you sure about this? If Louis is in Australia and there has been no sale agreed, who can they be doing deals with? Have Kevin Long and Bob Ellis been given some delegated authority?