STEVEHOLS54

Was thinking similar. Is an asset and think wanted to stay at Poole. Similar to Harris situation but maybe a more consistent high end scorer and on lower than Harris GSA by 0.22. My fear is whether we will ever win a League Champ with Hans in the team and we all know he is riding out his twilight years with as many clubs as poss so up to 4 per week. I know he is conditioned to it but has too many up and down rides as travelling takes it toll during peak season. Not even incl all the SEC/SGP and DK Championship qualifiers to boot. Wouldn't discount him and PERHAPS that slightly lower GSA may have a bearing. Would dearly love to know if one or both Holders will play any part, Nobody on the forum seem's to know what Chris's situ is or even if he intends to ride UK anyway in 2019. Also what about Jack who is also an asset and no Somerset in the equation this year. As usual more questions than answers. Still in favour of my idea of 2 young Aussies I named the other as reserves Pickering/Stewart and moving up with Jakobsen/Woyna/Kurtz/Jack Holder and Chris Holder (even if Chris was re-evaluated at 8 he would scrape in by o.o8 of a point into the 42.50 limit. Its a young and exciting sounding squad with scope to improve even if not initially a league winning team. Who wins it anyway frmo March to July ?? or even Sept for that matter. Top 4 is where you need to be. Other permutations are of course available ;-)

Very few but and hardly expect them to relate to an era of no mobile/iphomes/computer/modern technology. We/they didn't know any different in those days. How guys commuted to and from POL/SWE/DK/UK I will never know with all travel arrangements/hotels etc. Riders arriving in old cars/vans with bikes towed on small trailers. Recently saw an old Golden helmet meeting article on Youtube recently on Peter Collin and Michael Lee. Where would you see top stars arrive at the track driving an old motor towing a bike on the back of a trailer. Nostalgic days There was a kind of innocence about it all but all tried their level best to entertain us. Now its a different World of Kevlars and bikes decked out in local sponsors logos. Sport kind of moved on in one way but stadia hasn't in most cases. Except POL and the NSS of course.

Hope for his and the clubs sake they were able to wipe at least part of it out. Nobody wants to see any club lose money especially when its the one you support. I may be some 3.5 hours away from Poole being in Chelmsford but they are still my modern day club and rekindled my interest in the sport big time (not that i ever lost my love of Speedway). I am sure Matt will do his level best to give us the best team he can within the financial restraints he has and that pesky 2.64 points he needs to drop off the current team to get within the 42.50 point limit. There will have to be 2 changes at least anyway as he can't jiggle it any other way even if he wanted to keep all of last seasons team. Maybe even 3 will go to get the team he and hopefully we would like to see in 2019. Roll on the team announcements. He has said before he likes to get his teams sorted by xmas so let's hope the Team Sponsor situation doesn't put the dampener on that one.

I kind of kept quiet about the fact we struggled to beat them more often than not which perhaps led to us hating them (in a jealous kind of way). Funny though that it became a bit of a standing joke what good old Len Silver threw at us in the way of his so called marquee signings. Will I ever forget the great Finn Thomsen - Could be brilliant one ride and crap in the other 3 and he was supposed to be our number one. But always remember Bengt Jansen and the sadly early lost Gary Middleton and those riders who should have retired long before they did in Jackie Biggs - Jimmy Gooch - Les Mgillvray. Sorry for the nostalgia Witches fans but we did enjoy those days of the Witches even if they did have a nasty habit of beating us. Must get down to Ipswich this season as has been far to long and for max 45 mile drive and the promise of half decent facilities seems too good an offer to miss. Sounds much better than a windy/cold night at exposed Area Essex which indeed seemed in a time warp from the fiftees/sixtees although still sadly missed as what was my nearest track. As for Rye House - Least said the better I think.

I wouldn't disagree with you on that point.

Don't get too carried away. Mr Ford still has to shed 2.64 points from last years team so maybe all options are on the table as far as rider assets are concerned. If not he will at least get a loan fee ;-)

Apologies PB I was a bit out on the money lost. It was in fact a large five figure sum and that was as of the 3rd week of July so not counting any other mounting losses (if any) or profits (if any) after that. I quote you Matt's exact words from the Evening Echo release of 22nd July. But the loss of those meetings saw us start the season in the second week of April and it had a huge impact on the club financially. “It was a substantial loss – a large five-figure sum – and one I will not be able to recoup. It wasn’t only what it cost the club but also the loss of potential revenue and profit. To me a large five figure sum could be say from £70k upwards in my opinion. Plus did he make money in the second half of the season as many were saying crowds were not what they used to be. Maybe the play offs gave back some profit but I question how much considering what revenue say a crowd of 2000 would generate after expenses and after deducting season tickets - pensioner discounts and kids lower admission. Even Matt said he would not be able to recoup such losses.

Sorry PB but disagree. Matt said in an article during the season that he/the club had lost six figures this season with all the problems of 70th Anniv meeting and all the cancellations. Now who lost that money - the club - Matt Ford himself ??. Matt owns the club meaning surely he didnt lose it from his own fortune. It must be the club.

If it was worth so much than I am sure Matt would have sold it by now. I saw figure of £250k plus mentioned. How true that was I don't know but for what ???. In these days where many argue the sport is on its knees and going nowhere I can't see some charitable soul paying that much money or anywhere near it. Don't get me wrong. I think Matt has done a brilliant job for Poole over the years. Many like him and some don't. He has always been one step ahead many times in team selection and we have seen some great riders at Poole over the years. But the sport is on a downward curve in most peoples eyes (except the BSPA who seem to have a rose tinted view of the sport). Ask yourself where the Prem would be for 2019 had Chapman not purchased Ips/Peter . Neither in my opinion would have come up and for sure Som/Leic would have dropped anyway due to lack of finance/losses and not having choice of race night. Would have left only 5 Prem teams with loss of the small bit of money coming into the sport from TV.

I'll take that as a given. Having said that being an Essex (Chelmsford) based Poole and now lamented Lakeside Supporter I can't say I feel overly comfortable corresponding with someone who may only be 40 miles or so up the road with your somewhat possibly strange and unusual interests By the way I was a die hard Hackney Hawks Fan from my mid teens in 1970 until demise. I only lived less than a mile from Waterden Road. For me the most competitive and hated team were in fact the Witches when we raced against them. There was always a strong will to beat them more than anybody with great racers like John Louis - Davey's electric gating. Man never saw anyone who could gate as fast as that guy could. Always brought a good core of support along and also enjoyed visiting Foxhall for away matches. Much happier days for the sport in some way.

Also if memory serves me well, when Chris Louis owned the club didn't he announce his team last season well before most others ??

Sorry didn't realise I was expanding on an earlier posting. Maybe I did see it and it turned a light on in my head to post something. Maybe there is some truth in the first part of my post as well as without the 2 clubs he purchased coming up then the so called beloved top league would have been well and truly screwed

Don't disagree. Matt can be his own worse enemy. he has become a master of playing the local media (especially in the Echo) and wherever he can to gain the widest possible audience.. He bleats loud and clear in putting Poole Speedway into the media to gain max exposure. He has to be applauded in many senses but it can also be a negative. He was open when he was only to willing to share with all that 2018 had lost him well into 6 figure well before the season had ended and I think even before the play offs. So that means well in excess of £100,000 upwards. Well I am sure all the hype and guests flown in from all over Europe for the early season 70th Anniv meeting with hotel bills/flights and god knows how many other costs related took a fair chunk of that even before season started with no crowd income to offset at least part of it. Factor in rain offs - track problem cancellations, poor match results to mid season and falling crowds and there you go. Therefore a much hyped and no doubt very expensive jolly up for the team and Manager/owner with some partners plus some sponsors with not even a mention of a thank you to the supporters via an end of season do, must have gone down well with the locals. Lasting 4 days will all expenses paid incl flights - food/drink - entertainment - in the no doubt expensive racing village with World renowned pop stars of now and the past and no doubt decent Hotel accommodation to boot. Now I know that some sponsors footed some of the bill so thanks to those guys. But even so when you consider the Club allegedly lost so much money with Matt also openly saying finance is tight also with as it stands NO main Team Sponsor signed or even in sight, then it is a bit rich that the supporters who are the life blood of the sport don't even get a celebration bevvy up in recognition. Could you imagine a Football team winning the League but not parading for the fans ?? I don't begrudge them their trip and good luck to anyone who can enjoy such luxuries, but at a time when the sport is almost potless it is a bit rich to then come back and your first real media article bestows the lack of money and POL pricing you out of the top riders. It sounded like he was letting the fans down gently on team expectations for 2019. No doubt he also wants to keep a lid on expenditure for 2019 as he is still confident/hopeful in flogging the Club after next season. Yeah fat chance at his inflated idea of what a speedway club is worth. Hopefully we will still get a competitive team in 2019 as after all he has enough team assets in riders to call upon. We will no doubt see over the coming weeks - Hopefully.

A possible theory just posted by me on the Ipswich Forum.

Of course there could be a conspiracy theory on this whole Buster thing. If Buster had not taken over both Ips/Pet then chances are maybe only 5 clubs would have been willing to stay in Prem as both Som/Leic wanted to drop down, probably & mainly due to losses and not race night of choice. Meaning Prem would have been in effect buggered. Buster buying into both clubs on no doubt some deferred payment scheme would allow a 7 team Prem thus also keeping a top League and also not losing TV rights. Now it is said Buster tends to name his team late and into the new year. Could it be that he is waiting for the other 4 teams to mop up the riders they want at whatever going rate the riders want or teams will pay, knowing that come the new year if they are done and dusted the riders left will have less bargaining power and he can then dictate terms more favorably to him for those guys not yet fixed up but who will start becoming more desperate to do so. No doubt he will protect his first love KL with Lambert and whoever he wants there, but when you think about it maybe not so daft a thought ?? As said that is of course just a conspiracy theory I do hope for both Ips/Pet that some decent riders are signed and announced sooner rather than later as it will also prove that such a theory is utter crap. Plus all of us want to see competitive teams and racing.

When I said fortunate, I meant from the current perspective. If the team has no main team sponsor - with virtually nothing from TV, having by his on words taken a massive financial hit in 2018 with the combination of the washout big Anniv meeting - other early season washouts - lower crowds due to both an inept first half of the season and the dropping of crowds in general throughout UK, then he is indeed in the fortunate position of cleverly having purchased or had passed on various rider assets that may well serve him well in 2019 in the days of having tighten the purse strings. Under such circumstances he can if need be call on such assets to ride for Poole (such as Hans Anderson/Holders etc) or as you say obtain loan fees to help finance the club in these dark times. Having said that and much as I appreciate the fact sponsors financed part of the trip, one is never going to get much sympathy after a heavily advertised and lauded over Formula 1 trip to Abu Dhabi for the whole team/manager which Matt also said was his third or fourth trip to the event in recent times. Being Matt's main source of income one has to say it is indeed a sport where finance is tight.

Indeed it does. Don't have a team sponsor - Seems very little money - Of course Uk can't compete with Poland. We all know that and yes hardly surprising most don't want to risk their lucrative POl contracts to ride here for much lower money with the inherent risks involved. Vaculik a prime example of a rider who could have lost all of 2018 with that nasty injury early doors. Am sure Gorzow were furious and it could have cost him a fortune. Sure he won't be back on these shores again. But Ford is one of the more fortunate ones even without a main sponsor currently - He has over the years obtained plenty of assets so he can still sign the riders to field a half decent team if you factor in the likes of Hans Andersen - Kenneth Bjerre - Chris & Jack Holder and others. Can even include NKI but doubt he would. I think the big bucks man he referred to was probably Woryna who is the Star in Rybnik but maybe also Kurtz is going to earn big. Let's be honest the top guys only ride here as it covers expenses and some live here. For example Doyle & NKI. If you can cover your costs and travelling expenses around Europe from what you earn from UK then the money you earn in POL/SWE is not drained by lots of expenses. Of course what we don't know is if his comments are also a veiled threat as to whether he can even still afford the likes of Woryna _ Holders etc as they are all riding POL/SWE and maybe won't come cheap. Sounds like we can discount a top 8 point plus man then. Still faces a dilemma though as he has to still shed 2.64 points from this seasons team.

Yes but something has to give as the team in its current format is 2.64 over. Say you replaced Worrall at 5.60 with Shanes at 3.31 thats only saving 2.29 which is still 0.43 over. Many said this was arguably the weakest team ever to win the league. A good chunk of luck/good fortune and a sublime one ride from Harris made it happen in 2018. In my opinion it won't happen again without some jiggery poke within the team. An example of a rejiggle and just an idea Josh Pickering 4.58 - Jordan Stewart 4.00 (both reserves) -B Kurtz 7.05 - C.Woryna 6.36 - Jack Holder 7.39 - F.Jakobsen 5.04 Leaves by my calc 8.08 for a number one. It is filled with 4 of the Worlds best up and coming young riders (excl the good Poles who won't ride here) - has 2 of arguably the brightest young Aussies coming thru at reserve - JP just turning 22 in 3 days and had 2 seasons in Champ improv GSA over the 2. JS just turned 20 only 2 weeks ago and had ok first season with Redcar. Seems to be riding well against Jaimon Lidsey back home currently in Aussie. This would leave the option open for say Harris (ok some say he should be in but I am split on it) - Chris Holder who I would have over Harris and would also be a pull to get Jack back - Or an 8 pointer which brings into play either GP or recent GP riders (of course if available). Of course that leaves out Josh G - Nicolai Klindt - Richie Worrall and MAYBE Harris but whichever way you cut it we still need to offload at least 2 riders to get within the limit. I can't see Matt letting either Kurtz/Woryna or Jakobsen not being included as all 3 have the potential to up their GSA's. Other riders who could be considered if you want to jiggery poke on the av are Morris (if he was available and even wanted to ride for Poole) at 6.60 and Sundstrom who is now on only 6.04. Matt has a an interesting headache and juggling act on his hands.

If anything Doyle has gone the opposite long term. He seems like a fine wine who has matured/improved with age. Not many in this sport have improved over 30 like he has. Unless you are Hancock of course Can't believe the rider he was at 22/25 would become what he is today. Always had the asset of quick out of the gate but got overtaken far to easily. Now he is one of the hardest riders on the circuit and not many can overtake this guy once he is in front. All down to his earlier experience at Poole of course

Uk get priority over Swe on a Thur just as Swe gets priority on a Tue. That's what the Authorities agreed who control the Sport.

Could be. Must profess it seems a maze to me how they do it when the UK fixtures have not be advertised or to my knowledge even agreed yet other than we know UK has Mon/Thur and both Swin/Poole have agreed Thur with MAYBE the odd Wed fixture when fixtures clash i.e Poole V Swindon and the repeat fixure x 2.

There are a couple of possible answers to that. 1) Swindon v Poole for example may switch in some instances to a Wed to suit one another ??. Maybe the odd other switch. I am sure Doyley would have had discussions already with Rosco on that score before signing on the dotted line 2) Tough anyway on SWE as the authoririties that be already deemed UK had priority over SWE on Thur as SWE have their allocated day on a Tue. I am sure its been planned to work out for Club/s and rider. Same applies to any other rider should they ride for a Thur UK club where the Swedes deem to want the odd Thur night. Also remember the Swedes tend to have a squad system should the odd meeting clash.

I can see you are in the keep him camp Ray, As I said my mind is kind of split on it. Suppose we have to just wait and keep playing with rider ideas as for sure changes have to be made due to the 2.64 points over the limit.

Honestly Starman riding for Poole nothing to do with it. Unfortunately Chris Harris has become a victim of the way the system is. Similar with Brady who was 6.75 on the new 1/10 GSA's but then became 7.05 on the final. So 2 Poole riders who's GSA's increased yet Morris dropped from 6.91 to 6.60. Was this due to Rye House scores all being deleted ??. No idea personally but for sure doesn't help Matt's team building with having to get rid of 2.64 points. Personally think its a difficult one and you are damned if you sign him and damned if you don't. You will always get good days from Chris as he was rider of the night several times last season (but not in the 2 meeting play off final). It's a difficult one for me but having to shed 2.64 points of the final team av and having Chris start on such a high GSA does concern me as we need arguably 2 riders on lower AV at the expense of 2 others which arguably makes the team weaker. Maybe relying too much on the younger riders such as Kurtz/Wory/Jakobsen really stepping up. If you throw Morris into the mix I would be interested of course and Holder/s. Suppose all we can do is keep playing the name the team game until Matt enlightens us a bit more ;-)

Don't disagree Gavan. I think Ford has a difficult juggling act on his hands with the points limit alone and MAYBE if the Holders are available (maybe even only one of them) on lower GSA's then maybe they are a better option for team building limit.Won't argue with you over Snrs GSA as know your opinion on it but that isn't known just as we don't even know if he is an option for racing UK in 2019. I am edging more towards team balance and maximising the team strength based on points limit and the team having to shed 2.64 points from last season