waytogo28

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.

Indeed! me too. They have no loyalty to offer the Stars it seems. Sweden and Poland give Holder enough income so I am not even sure he wants to go to Poole ( except for the visa ).

Who took over as Team Manager after he was taken to hospital?

Join the "Agatha Christie" - how does this come about club as many supporters have the same questions about KL Stars. As well as Set ups? Machinery? we also add track prep? and rider motivation ( match guarantees instead of points )?

We ( the UK / GB ) were winners in speedway during the era when we had the most powerful ( and well paying ) leagues with high average crowds. There was money in the sport and that is when riders from Europe flocked here a) to gain experience to earn better money. The wheel has turned so far round and in the last 20 years Sweden and Poland have become THE places to go to for riders with serious aspirations ( if you can get in ) and where you can earn much higher rewards. As the sport has faded in terms of spectator appeal across the UK and little money is now available we can no longer attract the top stars. Or soon retain the services of more of our own top riders ( TW has left already and others will go when / if they get the offers and quite right too ). Thats the way of things - decline & fall. Those less prominent countries now emerging have riders who are getting Polish experience. I was surprised to hear that Sky are continuing to fulfil their contract of payments to the BSPA ( whilst not wanting to offer coverage ) Can that money not be used for setting up Test matches abroad? Or did it all go on buying Gerhard engines?

E I Addio said " Bottom line is not only are these things an indictment of the way the sport is run the problem is compounded by the totally amateurish way they wash their dirty linen in public." It is done this way just to muddy the waters even more - Chapman's statement was just to speed up the process of sweeping things under the carpet and "move on" hoping not to lose even more supporters along the way. He has definitely lost a goodly number more this time. ​We still do not know and he did not say - who ordered the two KL riders not to come out for heat 9? Was it the team manager or the riders themselves who started the protest / rebellion and who didn't give a fig for the fans? If it was the riders why was no action taken against them by the ref? If it was the promotion why have they not been censured? Is the referee's report on the meeting made public?

And there's the rub, There will be no action, no fines and no sackings. Buster has said his few words of "apology" and HE has moved on. Next week will tell us how many more fans just can't be bothered with the same old , same old. Yes Holder should be told to move on ASAP and even to Poole this season if that is where he wants to be. Holder had his severe injuries in 2012 and chose to return to riding ( and again even after Ward's awful fate ). The referee is responsible for determining if a track is fit and it should be left to them. Riders should be fined their match fee ( guarantee ) and any points money on the night for pulling out without permission.

I thought the purpose of this race being shown was to highlight what you are going to get 12 of every week at the AFA!

Nothing will happen, no one will be called to account over what has happened. Is the Chairman going to investigate himself? How will they find anyone else who is unbiased inside the BSPA? It's speedway. All the fans can do is walk away and NOT go again and that is what I suggest those genuinely fed up with it, do next week because it will not change as long as you go on accepting things as they are.. Fan power can be as effective as rider power, I bet. Let the crowd plummet and Oh Yes we will be told "it's gone because you didn't want it enough". That's speedway too it's happened in lots of places. Some fans, hopefully enough to make the protest significant, don't want what is on offer and don't want to be mushroomed ( you know, kept in the dark and fed on bullrubbish ) forever.

But MF did not want to retain his services for this season. CH was looking for a job ( and a visa ) and he found a well paid one at KL.

Let's have some answers please Buster. Not the limp apology issued today - blaming everyone else for the farce. Will we ever be told who instructed the riders to "down tools"? Did it come from them themselves and who started that debate, if that was the case? Does the result not stand? Why is there no result listed, even though the meeting was concluded? I was a Stars fan but Poole deserve the points. Who does control a meeting, is it not the referee?

Bye Bye Chris Holder then. You are welcome to him. Drop KK and have him now.

Sorry seems to be the easiest word for Buster. Just not enough as fans not on here are saying the same things. Not going to bother again. Even if Buster did learn something last night he learnt it a bit too late. Buster needs to demonstrate that he is taking remedial ACTION ( deeds not words ) to make sure that he or someone he pays to prepare the track actually do so to the extent that that riders have the confidence to RACE on the surface provided ( not merely ride on it as as happened most of this season ). Fans are turning their backs on you and KL - the place you have put your heart into because you are longer focussed enough on it. What has been on offer this season is dreadful racing NOT VFM Buster, no matter how many hours you have put in. And as for riders they accept that they cannot hope to ride for the Big Euro deals on offer in Poland where "rider power" has no effect on wether matches are called off or not. It was rider power last night! Ugly too! Might as well have sat on the fence and taken a dump on the terraces ( rubbish on the fans in other words ). If rider want it to be perfect every time they race they need to ride a pushtrike in a kiddies padding pool. Or perhaps virtual speedway app. with no element of danger involved at all. Thankfully the national media takes no notice of speedway nowadays because if they reported on last night's debacle it would all be negative reporting on what a joke speedway has become. And THIS V Poole was a King's Lynn Speedway "non-event". Lessons were clearly not learned!

He did not want a job there, he wanted only a visa from them to race in Europe. Be honest about it.

Need to hear a lot more than "sorry and please don't turn your back on the club" - Buster needs to demonstrate that he is taking remedial ACTION ( deeds not words ) to make sure that he or someone he pays to prepare the track actually do so to the extent that that riders have the confidence to RACE on the surface provided ( not merely ride on it as as happened most of this season ). Fans are turning their backs on you and KL - the place you have put your heart into because you are longer focussed enough on it. What has been on offer this season is dreadful racing. And for riders they accept that they cannot hope to ride for the Big Euro deals on offer in Poland where rider power has no effect on wether matches are called off or not. It was rider power last night! Ugly too! Might as well have sat on the fence and taken a dump on the terraces ( rubbish on the fans in other words ). If rider want it to be perfect every time they race they need to ride a pushtrike in a kiddies padding pool. Or perhaps virtual speedway app. with no element of danger involved at all.