STEVEHOLS54

It was those comments that led me to make similar comment in my post. It's not for me to scaremonger BUT these are difficult times. For the first time I can remember Matt to my limited knowledge has NO Major team team sponsor as I post this on the forum. He has also lost probably at least 2 of his smaller sponsors(he mentioned this only a week ago I believe in the Echo where he mentioned 1/2 not renewing which normally means more than one). He has no offers on the table known of to purchase the club, but then maybe if he is so deeply entrenched into his new biz venture come end of next season maybe he will near enough give it away or continue running the club if he still has a love for it. Also we were supposed to hear news in Nov re the new Co Promotors but its been no further news even on that front. Additionally there was always plenty of positive promotion about Matt's Xmas party for the Clubs sponsors where it was also used to promote the release of team news. Even that has been fairly low profile. It's a difficult one when you consider where we are in the sport, certainly in respect of the Prem. Chapman had to agree to purchase an addl 2 teams in order to keep a Prem League. Well at least on a possible buyback clause in each case. What would happen if Matt did decide to stop it if nobody want's to buy it and no team sponsor is forthcoming with a Golden Purse like in the days of Readypower. Would Chapman jump in to offer to buy yet another club at a discounted price ?? One has to question how in one of the most affluent parts of the UK down on the South Coast where millionaires live in Luxury in many parts. How nobody with deep pockets deems it fit enough to say come up with £75/125K as the major team sponsor for what is arguably the team with the highest profile in the sport in UK in the modern era. Perhaps that in itself tells you the state British Speedway is in.

Carry on posting sensible content Gav, as although its a forum on Poole, other fans with interesting and thought provoking comments make for interesting debate whether it be about Poole or anyone else. Had it not been for your comment then I would not have replied with what I had read on the various media outlets and possible conclusion drawn maybe also with the Klindt possible connection and a sensible reason to have been bending Ford's ear about signing him. PLUS of course maybe he has been improving (his Oct results would certainly bear that out when you study them in more detail - he looked more like a heat leader than a reserve). Only time will tell us but seems maybe not a lot between him and Jake Allen on latter part of season form. Out of joint interest, I wonder if Jakobsen has been loaned by Matt Ford to Ipswich for 2019 as Jakobsen said in a POL interview over 1 week ago that he has commitments to race in UK in 2019. Would make sense if as one poster commented that he had spoken to Fred and Matt said he was a victim of the numbers game for 2019. Maybe also Woryna at Ipswich but think it needs deep pockets for him to come over this season. BUT you never know ?? Personally would like to see both racing for Ipswich in 2019. 1) Because Ips are now my most local track being 40 plus miles from Chelmsford, and 2) Would give both more valuable UK racing experience with maybe a view to both returning to Poole in 2020 (That's if Poole are racing in 2020, as we all know there is doubt on that score at this present moment).

From what I read Jensen could have resigned for Workington. What swung it was his Danish friend Claus Vissing has signed for Glasgow. Rasmus commented that he agreed to sign for Glasgow as one of the deciding factors was that he could travel share with Vissing thus reducing costs. Maybe this also incl sharing mechanics and vans. Last season Jensen had DK team mates at Work in Klindt and Bach. Believe this season Bach may be staying in DK and Nicolai is not riding Champ as he now has SWE/DK/Prem/POL as his 4 Leagues. It may even be that Jensen also has an arrangement with Klindt to cover joint travel/mechanic costs if Nicolai has been pushing Matt to sign him, on a similar arrangement to what Jensen has agreed with Vissing. Kind of makes sense when you think about it. The DK lads looking after each other ;-)

Suggest you look at the SGB website and Workington's results for October (open the individual match score sheets) IF RJ starts the way his results read for Oct he could be a very clever signing on his 4.39 GSA (converted from his Champ GSA). Assuming it was RJ from reading the various comments on the forum. Looks like he improved as season went on and at just turned 25 maybe he could flourish. At reserve could be a decent option.

Thought I saw similar on the forum but no rider announcements. In the past there has been a lot of high profile, but maybe this year played down in view of the not so positive situation on the Sponsor front ?? Wonder when our last 4 riders will be announced and if Matt will make any formal announcements on why (if rumours are to be believed) that those 2 exciting young riders Woryna & Jakobsen were not resigned. Seen plenty of comments on forum and twitter that Woryna is down to not enough money on offer compared to his big deal in Poland but Jakobsen ?? No doubt more will be said when team news appears. Hopefully before xmas if the 7 are already known which many seem to think they are.

Does anyone know if Matt Ford held or is holding his Xmas party for the sponsors this year ?? Am asking as with the loss of the main team sponsor plus in his words 1/2 other smaller sponsors not renewing, if there are sufficient sponsors left to warrant having one and the cost no doubt associated. Believe Matt in past years also used the opportunity to name riders for the following season which also generated interest.

Also don't the Poles do quite a bit of training on their tracks plus the squad get a good few decent friendlies before actual league season starts. Being an important part of Rybnik's team for 2019 I am sure he will get plenty of practice in for the season start. Those big sweeping POL tracks will be great for getting time on the bike without the more fiddly technical UK tracks where you may only get rides on race days and at the official press and practice day.

I think your top 4 will keep Swindon in the hunt and in the top 4. If the bottom half does not do it's job then Rosco can always look to change riders should he not feel they will do what he needs from July onwards. I would hope not for the team, being Brits involved but ultimately we are in a results driven biz.

On top of that, those of us who follow POL Speedway have noticed over the last couple of years how these POL EXL owners and Nice 1 as well have been signing up a fair bit of this young Aussie talent that does not get reported much in our Speedway media news in UK. They are signed up young and then either go on loan to lower league teams for experience or if not get the chance to do practice with the big guys to gain some experience. I think POL Speedway seems to have a decent scouting system in place both here and in Aussie reporting on the progress of these up and coming stars with probably similar in SWE/DK. Would like to think that Fricke will come good together with Brady & Jack and let's not forget they are 22/23 not 32/33 so plenty of time to reach the very top. All 3 are already in the World's top league/teams so already achieved what most British riders can only dream of.

Especially if your anticipated top 2 young Aussies realise anything of their true potential this season. Prefer anyway that many treat us as underdogs and let's see how the season progresses. Too much anticipation and over hype put on many of our teams over the years at Poole.

Fricke may still be improving. Much as I am a big Jack fan let's not forget what Fricke has achieved at still only 22. He won 4 yes 4 Aussie U21 titles - A World U21 title in 2016. Believe he was also part of League winning teams in the same season in POL Nice 1 - Swe Prem & Dk Leagues (was either 2016 or 2017). Easy to forget he is still only 22, but sometimes your past successes put you on a pedestal for expected immediate success on the World stage. Max/Brady & Jack are all progressing at 22/23 but maybe at different levels in their quest for the top. We should never forget a certain Mr Doyle who rode around Poole at similar age and never looked anywhere near the class of these guys. Even at 26/27. The biggest example of being one who matured later and then took it all the way to World Champ. Not everyone can immediately be a Zmarzlik/Drabik/Smektala/Woffinden/Piotr Pawlicki in their early years but one would like to think that all 3 young Aussies will be top/top riders in coming years.

Would not surprise me if Matt Ford already released all or most of the team to the Echo prior to Ned Payne going on his one week jolly up in Dominica. No doubt under strict instructions to be released on certain days timed with the Echo daily online deadline. The lack of a recognised World Star due to the lack of available money (or real interest from these stars who don't want to ride UK)) would seem to back this up. Interesting though as Matt was always enthusiatically involved with each riders press release, and kept hold of info right until the minute he wanted it released. I can only assume now he is looking to get out, and allied to no good news on Sponsor front, maybe means the effort is taking it's toll on him as he struggles to secure Sponsorship, be that main team sponsor or even some of the smaller ones who seem to be jumping ship. Having said all that I suppose we have been spoiled over the years of his tenure with some of the top guys that have graced the team. Let's hope next season is not Poole's last, but it's going to take people with deep pockets plus a decent main team sponsor & smaller sponsors to take it forward.

I think that Ford will be putting a lot of faith in both Kurtz (and I assume Jack Holder who has been widely mentioned on the Forum) to find some decent form with at least one of them progressing on to become an actual Heat Leader. If Ford builds a team of steady points scorers around then two and with 2 decent reserves it MAY surprise some come latter part of the season. Of course it also may not, but irrespective, this is due to be Ford's last season. If he doesn't find a buyer at his highly inflated idea of what the Club is worth in what has been a slowly dying sport, he threatens it may be Poole's last in the sport. As it stands things not looking so clever - No real TV money - No major team sponsor (as it stands) which would be the first season ever ?? - Also in the latest interview he now mentions 1/2 (probably at least 2) of the other smaller sponsors have also chosen not to renew. Are we really surprised when the guy with arguably the highest profile in the modern era of the sport in UK has decided he wants to jack it in in favour of a new career/biz venture. Fortunately he has enough assets and there are enough riders not fixed up where he can still put a half decent side out to hopefully compete in 2019 without breaking the Bank.

Top end is important but strength in depth can be good when you are riding away. Having reserves that can switch in and out of the berth during the season can also be important as Poole found last year when the likes of Woryna/Worrall went in/out. You get 3 points at home irrespective if you win by 2 or 30. Away its about pinching points from a 6 points or less defeats with draws and odd victories a bonus. Look at Poole second half of last season. Its about getting in top 4. Anything above 3 is a bonus as it puts you towards deciding your own destiny as to home/away choice in the play offs. I will be happy to have a decent in depth team to start. If it is looking problematical come July (or even earlier) you can always tinker with the team if need be.

Okay let's play the cryptic clue game ;-) Firstly Matt said that Covatti would be the SENIOR reserve. Meaning the other has to be less than 4.70. Your clue was 2 from a different nation which pushes me towards DK. Klindt being one of them. The other cold be the DK born Stefan Nielsen ?? on 3.7 ish which is below Covatti. Makes some sense as he was riding well for Poole last season before the nasty injury which almost wiped his season out. His 4 match av was 5.18 or 6.12 incl BP. Viewed from that respect a starting GSA of 3.7 approx looks pretty good ;-)

Look at it like this. No POL team wants Cook or Harris. Anderson now only good enough for POL Nice 1 and not POL EXL and think I heard that his team may not even have a licence to race next year due to some issues. Nothing like those facing the team that Hancock/Morris & Becker ride for who seem to have a boss who has commited some nasties in not paying riders of the team - plus an individual Tournament and also for a car they purchased that was given as a prize. They paid 1/2 payments and then stopped. News on them looks pretty bleak according to the main POL Speedway site https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/i-liga/statystyki/2018 Check the recent headlines on right hand site of the web page. Mentions Anderson's team and some stadium payment issues as well as the various Hancock team issues which look more serious.

This team should in theory easily keep in the top 4 for the play offs. Additionally if Lampart doesn't cut it then there is always the possibility of changing during the season as I am sure there would be other possibilities in the lower points region become available either here or from overseas. The rest of the team look able although would be a little worried about Zach if not at reserve. Still think he will struggle a bit in main team. Bu that may change after first GSA's. Also he could do with an injury free run for a change to stop hindering his progress. There is still plenty of points in the team though and for sure having the best rider in the League by far in Doyle takes some heat of the lower order.

One of the expected 4 in the side ;-)

If the other reserve is what I have heard rumoured they could be decent in that department. Definitely has a strength in depth look - IF - as I said 2 certain young Antipodean Individuals ride to their true potential. The Poles are not stupid and saw the potential in both hence why they had their first full POl EXL last season and both are expected to push on. Quite incredible to think that one already has a Gold Medal having helped with the POL EXL League last season with the other expected to be in full team all season in 2019 after impressing last season. We may have another young Aussie chap in reserve who has potential ;-)

I think the announcement of what is becoming the rumoured team, with no top established star, and the expected loss of 2 of the brightest up and coming young overseas stars in the sport who had decent first seasons, will perhaps highlight the financial situation at the club and perhaps Ford's unwillingness to invest much money in his final season. Allied to the absence of the major main team sponsor probably highlights where we are in the sport. The top man want's out and arguably the club with the highest profile has (so far) not been able to attach a serious major sponsor. On top of that the big SKY money went some time ago. Add all three and hardly a healthy sign for the sport going forward. Despite all that because of the make up of what is now an inferior league in World Speedway terms, Poole will still have a reasonably competitive team that will probably hold up ok in the top four to compete for the play offs. That is PROVIDING the 2 anticipated young Aussies step up to the plate.

Hope so. The one so far hardly going to get people out spending money on a season ticket which Poole so actively seem to be pushing ahead of rider announcements. Wonder how Matt's quest for the main team sponsor is going. With little to no money going into the club would one would think he is desperate for season ticket sales hence why they are probably pushing the point. Perhaps a sign of the clubs financial state and Matt's perhaps waining interest in putting much more into the biz will be highlighted by the lack of perhaps some top and up and coming stars that graced the team in 2018. Can't help thinking it will be more of a home grown inexpensive feel to it, and I incl Aussies in that as they all live here ranging from living with Middlo to others who are also based here. Think we will see that other than Doyle the true World Stars will again be conspicuous by their absence incl young and up and coming Poles/Danes. I excl Rob Lambert who is both a Brit and a potential World Star. Still hopefully will be a team to at least hold its own with strength in depth, IF the 2 alleged rumoured young Antipodean Guys get it together in 2019.

Interesting comment. If that's the case he arguably doesn't need UK anymore. Doesn't need the experience at his age on UK tracks, will be commited to POL/SWE & DK PLUS he is back full time in the SGP for 2019 after qualifying last season in the SGP Challenge Final. One could argue that is was only his British ?? partner that kept him here, but if they (and think he has a young family )?? have upped sticks and moved to DK, then he does not need the expense - constant flying in and out for MON & Thur meetings, and the risk of injury from racing on our arguably questionable prepared tracks. Now he can do POL/SUN - SWE/TUE - DK/WED - spend some time with family before POL again on SUN plus all the Saturday SGP rounds. Factor in he also has to ride DK Champ rounds and final to keep his nominations for SGP qualifiers, plus actual SGP qualifiers and final as well. I am sure he realises he may not automatically qualify in top 8 for SGP and would not be a likely Wild Card with all the new talent coming through now. A wise and sensible move from NKI if he has decided to move all the family to his homeland in agreement with his new Wife now they have recently got married (so I heard).

I wouldn't knock it as they were top of the actual League and arguably injury cost them in the finals of the Play offs and KO Cup. One could say why change a winning formula as they were on a roll second half of the season. Problem is they have to lose that 1.17 over the limit on last seasons final GSA. Meaning even if they lose NKI they would have to replace with a rider with a max GSA of 6.21. Personally don't think that would be the end of the World IF last seasons other 6 rode to the form they did second half of 2018. Problem is can't see much at that kind of GSA on currenty Final GSA list.. Maybe Bellego at 6.11 but let's be honest he is no NKI. But change/changes have to be made whatever team is chosen for 2019. The sport can be so cruel. So close and injuries at the worse possible stage cost them dearly, plus to add insult to injury they have to shed 1.17 for this season.

No way I can see Cook at Poole. This all seems to have blown up in the last days and only today has it really been confirmed he won't be riding there. His latest tweet only 36 mins ago to confirm it. He seems genuinely upset the way he has been treated. If as mentioned Matt already had his 7 sorted for a while then one would expect Cook not to have been part of that plan. Plus I doubt anyone could have forseen him riding anywhere but BV as he has that club running through his veins. Could all be smoke and mirrors of course but from his tone he seems genuinely upset as is one of his main sponsors who have also gone on to their twitter page about it in the last 40 mins or so.

Remember in previous years in play off meetings against Poole. He had BV blood running through his veins and was totally commited. He was gutted more than anyone when they just missed out winning. If I had been a BV supporter I could not have wished for a more commited rider. Full of raw emotion for BV to do well. It was not just another European Club for him as part of global track riding around Europe. In some ways I kind of hated the guy, but maybe it was part envy as that's the kind of commitment and sense of elation/grief I want to see from more riders when they are trying their best for the team and are GENUINELY gutted when they lose out. For many of the top riders its almost a sense of just another meeting and off to POL/SWE/DK tomorrow so doesn't mean too much. Maybe also being British he has also felt a real connection to the team over the years he has been with BV.