beckettlion

Michelsen ditched Leicester pretty early last season, seemed to coincide with the Swedish league starting. I may be putting 2+2 together and making 5, but it seemed like the elite league was his warm up before European leagues started

It'll probably be a Poole asset?

Couldn't agree more. Occasionally I question some of his decisions, I'll admit to that. But I don't doubt his pride in what he has achieved at Leicester. There seems to be some short memories, it wasn't long ago at all we had no speedway in Leicester. Now, hugely thanks to David Hemsley, we are back, competing in the top tier of British Speedway. I for one, will be eternally grateful of that. Also, so many people argue that he has too much pride to drop down to the premier league. How on earth can you have too much pride for that, but a small enough amount to drop out of racing for a season all together? I'm fairly sure (can never be certain!) the Lions will be at the tapes in 2016, with what strength 7 I remain in doubt

Getting rather frustrating being a Lions fan at the moment. The lack of signings, I can deal with. The knowledge that we'll have a bang average (at best) septet next season, I can deal with. But the lack of professionalism and the lack of keeping the fans updated what is happening and where the club are at in terms of talking to riders etc, is a little bit frustrating. I also question the logic of the club sometimes. We know for a fact, because he's said it a million times that the club doesn't want uncommitted riders (Ljung, Pedersen, Michelsen etc) and yet, the club, for the second year running, appear to be snubbing the potential services of Simon Stead, a British rider, with sufficient talent and more professionalism than you could expect of any sportsman.

Can't see Leicester switching nights. They'd have done it to accommodate Doyle if they were going to do it at all... Definitely wouldn't be Friday if they did, hemsleys far too aware that a lot of Leicester and cov fans go to both and most would be more likely to choose Brandon in the event of a clash

Never heard what was said, I know people weren't impressed. Could you summarise please? Cheers

Steady seems to be dropping hints that he'd welcome a return to the lions on Twitter... Steady walasek thj Wozniak would be a solid enough (not awe inspiring admittedly) 4/5s of the main body of the team!

I don't think anyone's 'hyped him as something special'. I think a few people, myself included, feel that he'd be a good rider as part of our septet considering the limited options available to us

Would be an absolutely quality team, but the likelihood of convincing them all to race not only in the elite league, but in the elite league for leicester on a saturday night, when they're all likely to be racing in Poland on Sunday the next day is a problem.

Any ideas who else we may have approached?

Poole will win probably win it... They seem to have a bit of a habit of it. I fancy Swindon to be strong too.. As much as I hate to say it, can't see the lions not being bottom

Interesting theory... Wozniak went from strength to strength last year, including making the pass that got us the away win at Wolves in heat 15, to take us above you in the table. Walasek who was absolutely brilliant when fit and thj who didn't disgrace himself in the gps. You really think that's a worse three than a worsening lindgren, average kylmakorpi and a bech that's never lived up to his potential?

Tongue in cheek, maybe, but if we were at the start of team building and told we had Wozniak signed, Walasek about to put pen to paper... and arguably the best reserve pairing in the league, we'd be thinking we'd have a good septet in the making. If we didn't know all these riders had said no to us, we'd possibly be getting excited. Not seen any mention of THJ anywhere but here, but no one seems to suggest he's turned us down (admittedly, no ones mentioned we've approached him) but if we were to get him, I think we'd have 3 handy heatleaders there... No standout rider, but collectively strong throughout. I'd rather have THJ, Wozniak and Walasek than the Wolves trio of Lindgren, Bech and Kylmakorpi for example. If we were then to add say Steady and Barker (as seems to be the suggestion on here), we would have a solid, but not necessarily big hitting side. I would however imagine that 7 (THJ, Stead, Walasek, Barker, Wozniak, Auty, Starke) would be fairly consistent in picking up points from 1-7. If we can just build a reasonable 1-5 that can compete with other teams, our reserves should be a lot more reliant than the previous two years in the elite league. This is me being very optimistic, as it does look quite bleak at the moment... but surely, we've thrown together two make shift sides the last two years, and whilst not being in danger of winning trophies, haven't been a complete embarrassment, in my opinion.

Swindon Speedway on twitter have said there will be more information regarding the new stadium tomorrow morning

Hopefully pull something outta the bag from a non-elite league rider from the last year... But realistically, we're gunna be extremely underwhelming. Not sure what's gunna happen with Walasek, assumed he would have been announced by now. Plenty of competition from Kings Lynn too, who are yet to announce anyone in their 1-5. Lawson wouldn't be awful- if he was a second string- but will probably end up at lakeside. Any of them except Walasek, as a heat leader would be uninspiring for me, but would be decent as a second string rider... You've missed Stead off that list too!

The only good thing about having no idea whatsoever as to who's gunna be in our team, is that we don't know for sure we'll be bad... yet!

For what it's worth, I'm pretty gobsmacked... I assumed a quality rider, that actually wanted to ride for Leicester (there's not many people that actually want to do that!) wasn't signed up in the blink of an eye by the Lions! But yeah, I'll agree with you that Cov probably slightly edge the teams, despite their reserves

Who's changing race nights? Surely won't be Leicester... If they do now, it's a bit bloody late! Already missed out on Doyle. Looking bleak for the Lions this year

Wouldn't worry about the wooden spoon at anywhere but Leicester unless we can really pull something out of the bag. You may all be underwhelmed by the Masters signing, but I can assure you he's a quality, committed rider and I know the Lions fans are (or at least should be) gutted he won't be with us next year

Almost feel sorry for Starke and I'm a Lions fan! Auty I think was very happy at Leicester last year and I don't think he'll be as concerned. Starke's sorta been lumped with us after the draft and coming from Poole last year... probably isn't gunna overly inspiring to see us failing to sign even the few riders that actually want to ride for us!

Was really hoping we'd see Sam back... hope the promoters are gunna pull their finger out and make some good signings soon (and they'll have to be bloody good). To lose Doyle and Sam for what sounds like the fault of our promotion is very frustrating.

Depends if he's on the heat leader list. Think after his injury he'd be a risk in a heat leader role. Definitely worth it if we could get him as second string. Stead and masters at second string, both could push most heat leaders on their day and would give us great strength in depth... Think most lions fans would love to have Simon back, top rider, even better bloke

Ohh sorry, I'd spoken to a few Wolves fans that questioned his attitude. Assumed that was the case for the majority as a lot seemed to be nodding in agreement. It was just after he'd left, so maybe there was some sour grapes over that

Hope the Walasek at Leicester continues in 2016... he was excellent for us (when fit). Bjarne on the other hand? I'd rather ride with 6