waytogo28

False dawn said " I believe the only way KL are going to recover this situation is to bare their souls. Tell us what happened, warts and all and tell what they intend to do. It'll be no worse than the speculation. Treat your fans with respect" So many fans fully agree with that but is Buster listening? I hope so. Will he react positively to this desire from fans? I hope so. Rob Lyon should stand down as co-promoter, as he only ever was "in name only" and seems to have no function to fulfil on race nights. As suggested he should have gone out on the centre green and explained things to the waiting crowd. . T The speculation is worse than the truth almost always! Politicians are strongly advised to " tell the truth, tell it all and tell it quickly" to recover from a scandal. Last Thursday was a scandal and sadly Buster's latest apology ends with " let's put it behind us and move on". Not so easy for some fans. Oh and as a consolation sop a free race card will be given out this week ( 20p per person cost?)

Ah the sense of mystery! which I enjoy in TV detective dramas but not when the team is shrouded in mystery and everything is Top Secret. Only yesterday Buster promised such a farce as last Thursday will never happen again at KLS but he needs to increase the transparency and communication to really appease fans. Or instruct Pearson to do it as he runs the website. Anyone know the likely Rye House team? Not on their website, it must also be run by Pearson as it is woefully out of date re this week. Quick! Rush the whole team to Little Walsingham just in case the healing waters of the "north" of Norfolk work for the Stars.

I must say that Dave Goddard - not my mate - is an excellent commentator who I enjoy listening to and who does add just enough to the on track action. But Oh How fortunate we are to have the BT coverage which I also enjoy as a different product.

The real problem is that the BSPA were finally eager for Buster to become Chairman ( after his years of agitating for change ) because the job is a poisoned chalice, in the sense that no-one can turn the sport around because it has declined too far already. When Buster stands down, as he will, who is there to take over who really has a chance to revise the sport?

It is easy for those of us who have highlighted the negative aspects of speedway in recent years to be labelled doom and gloom merchants. We have ( collectively ) put forward and continue to put forward positive , constructive ideas which seem to be be unheard by the BSPA or are not considered. Every business - except speedway finds feedback from their customers highly desirable and worth collecting and listening to.

Always been a "mood" rider - can be superb and when not in the mood ( for whatever reason ) doesn't even try or appear to try. Comes across as a petulant child - even if he isn't. And many fans are "considering their position" too and may not put up with KL as it is being run ( and has been run down over the last two years or so. ). Rob Lyon is always held up with high respect and perhaps now needs to "consider his position" and make it plain if he is going to play a positive, structural part in KLS. For Chris Holder and Doyle to have any real interest in the UK ( in either league ) depends on money. IF holder can continue to get £1,000 plus a point in Poland ( he may not next year ) why would either of them bother much about the paltry amounts ( by their standards ) available in the UK?

So there was some serious condemnatory official reaction to Holder's actions. Even if it weakens the Stars it is better to see that holding the fans in contempt will not be accepted. Will he learn? Will he get paid his guarantee package during his ban? Will other riders take note of what is unreasonable behaviour. We can only hope so.

And because the BSPA don't welcome new ideas from anyone of any age or background that downward spiral can only lead to the end of speedway as we know it now ( or have known it ). Even ideas such as handicap racing ( as at the IOW recently ) could be employed - not a new idea but a "fresh" one that could make speedway racing attractive to a new generation of fans by reducing processional racing.

One good reason to go would be to promise that such a thing will never happen again under his ownership. And another one would be to confirm that the club IS taking disciplinary action against Holder and giving Batchelor notice that he is on a final warning. But we are not going to get that are we? It is not the first calamity this season and there have been too many track problems causing long delays for rectification in the last couple of years. Why should we trust Buster? It was a very different man who laboured to build up the club.

Bet there won't be a sun delay ( or not for long ) for the TV broadcast. Odd how the presence of the cameras makes lots of things possible that don't get bothered with on other days.

I really don't think it was a simple "misdemeanour" because it has left a number of fans who were there with little or no desire to go again and be put through something similar again. How many will stay away we do not know but the person who gives me lift was very miffed and talked of not going to go again. Speedway is a very hard habit to break ,but for all, including myself when you think what a lot of rubbish they offer you now - you do want to stay away.

I am in the - it would be detrimental to the sport camp. Even more reasons for local newspapers and radio to "give speedway a miss" too. And yes 99% of fans probably don't give a monkey's.

The problem is with depending so much on social media inc. Facebook and Twitter is that it is no different to leaflets and posters ( except that it is digital and free ). Being on Facebook or twitter does not automatically put your information in front of millions of people. They still have to know about you and what you are doing to "like" you or follow you. Also what some riders put out to their existing 500 followers is not going to attract or interest ( or make much sense ) to those outside the sport.

Yes the world has moved on from those "start again" days. I can't see a re-start getting off the ground if speedway does go under. So, if the turnstile income is truly important why does't Buster / BSPA take more notice of what supporters want or suggest? They should do a questionnaire to every paying fan who attends a match in September ( and not just be asked to listen to us on here ) before they make the big decisions at the AGM IF they hope to retain most of the existing fan base. IF they believe that fan's views are important and might just hold the key to declining crowds. The BSPA have been "knowing best"for all of the time that the Sky money has been coming in and crowds have dropped during that time ( and clubs have closed ). They obviously don't "know best" or there would be 3 to 5,000 people attending everywhere every week.

And there we have it in a nutshell. I am sure that JC is correct about what has kept things going for the last 15 years. As for a new phoenix - can't see one unless it is BT and they are unlikely to be offering as much as Sky did - IF they offer anything.

It was too late when Buster was given "control" of the sport. The decline was and is irreversible. That is not being full of doom and gloom but is a look at the reality of falling attendances and general lack of interest in the sport from those not involved in it. Poland IS a different world speedway wise and we are not able to copy that model ( nor what was working in Sweden ). Without a fan base ( or big spending sponsors who are really pumping up themselves ) a semi pro low-level sport - if any -is the shape of the future. If you can get £1,000 a point in Poland IF you can get in it, that's the place to go to for younger riders.

So now it is "sponsor power" that likely runs speedway at KL ( and elsewhere too ). It makes more sense but begs the question that the supporters and turnstile income is much less important. So that IF sponsors can be found who will continue paying up in exchange for their control of the sport - crowd levels can be allowed to plummet? Is 500 regulars OK? Then 300? What many want is the same that JC asks of the club ( in red above ) for a full and public explanation of the "extraordinary "reasons behind last weeks farce. Will some of that explanation include the invisible co-promoter Mr Lyon? Is he pulling out as rumours suggest?

We will obviously be having C Holder and T Batchelor as they have not been sacked or given a 28 day ban. If they did get a ban then any two Championship heat leaders permitted, that fit the numbers are OK by me.

IF the A N Others are of a reasonable standard and committed to racing I am happy with that. Rather than one or two I CBBS ( I Can't Be Bothered Sometimes ). better to go down fighting than not fight at all. Spot on, my thoughts exactly. NV on holiday? During the season? No deputy then? No Plan B? Must be nearly time for that one - Use it or Lose it - well sometimes that does happen and why not IF people don't want to bother. put off by what paltry fare has been on offer?

Sadly, no good will come of that. Sweeping things under the carpet means that the ugly, dirty bit of it is still lurking there. Hopefully not to be repeated, but I am not holding my breath.

I think we could congratulate S S on dealing with his post on Dale in a positive, sincere apology. I do congratulate him . Steve is outspoken and he is right that no subject should be taboo, but we should talk about it in a sensitive way, at an appropriate time.

Yes please Chris! Why not? Not so that we can shout him down or argue the rights and wrongs but just to hear his perspective on it. It is "right" for him ( his view ) , so why not share it? One problem is lack of transparency / communication. In the same way the referee's report should be made public. Why not?

GRW said " What will happen the next time the track is not to their liking. ???????" ​That is what has finally killed off my interest ( obsession really ) in going to watch the Stars at Saddlebow Rd. Thurs night was not the first such time of being very, very messed about and kept waiting needlessly for track modifications demanded by riders, when Buster has said it's rideable and raceable ( and the referee too ). Supporters won't go on and on putting up with it. Well, this supporter won't. Even worse new, would be supporters certainly won't. Buster ( at KL ) and the BSPA ( in general ) have to get a grip on what they offer to people who pay to come in through the turnstiles.

Buster was excellent at being a Big Fish in a Little Pond ( KL and the area ) he developed the Saddlebow Road stadium into a great local facility. He does not have the diplomatic skills and "deal" skills required to develop the whole sport via his role within the BSPA. In particular he does not have the communication skills to get the supporters nationwide behind his ideas. He is too thin skinned and sees contributions from other people as not having any merit - when in fact good ideas often come from feedback from those who are interested enough to offer it. Needs to listen more, consider the available options more and think through the likely outcomes ( i.e. averages this season, doubling up etc ) and how they will impact on the sport before deciding that THIS is the way forward. That is the BSPA as a whole and not only Buster.

The last thing speedway, as a sport, and KL as a club need is this kind of disruptive "rider power" worsening things between supporters and promotions, as seems to be the case here, Holder and Batchelor are not riders of the Robert Lambert age and are sadly not going to change these negative aspects of their personalities. A great pity but we can expect other similar eruptions from them.