SteelShoe

An emotive post THJ and after losing both parents in the last two and half years one I can relate too. I have an idea how much you have done for the Comets and would just like to say a very big thank you, your help in all the ways you mention has been invaluable. Best wishes to yourself and Dad for Xmas and 2019 fella.

James Sarjeant it is then at 2

Great to have Birmingham back where they belong, pleased for all you Brummies fans. The Championship has been really competitive in recent seasons and long may it continue.

Big well done the promotion on bringing Super Stevie to the Comets for 2019. Really dedicated rider who was set up to have a very big season in 2018 before the misfortune of injury. Sure he will be raring to go and make up for lost time next season. So far the team has a mix of racers and good starters and thats a good balance. The three remaining signings will define our season. As long as they are determined able characters we will do just fine. Big welcome Stevie its great to have you in a Comets race jacket next season.

4th signing to be announced at 5pm.

Has Josh Mcdonald qualified for a visa ? Jaimon Lidsey would apparently come in on a higher average due to riding in Poland last season. Simon Lambert suited to bigger tracks. Turned down a return to Worky the season after being offered a team when Rye House dropped him. Chose to sign for Peterborough giving travelling distance as the biggest reason. Never advanced from reserve status really but goes pretty well round Derwent Park.

I'll be pretty surprised if Mason starts at No 1 jenga.

My type of racer, Great signing, Welcome Bradley, Well done the promotion, Chuffed !!!

Great to see young Bickers back. It was a very tough Championship for him last season with the quality of reserves but he held it together and made telling contributions toward the end of the season. Looking forward to watching his continued progress as his confidence and belief that he is more than good enough for this level increases. Up the Comets !

Cookie won't have come cheap and if he has signed on for 2019 then i would doubt it would be for less money. Don't know how accurate this is but £200 a point with sponsorship were figures for last season. It was strongly rumoured that Bomber was on a £2K guarantee . The wage bill must have signigicantly contributed to the losses reported by Glasgow yet it would appear the practice continues regardless of what was said at the AGM.

Exactly screm, bit of hypocrisy me thinks.

Not quite sure how the 38 point team average is going to pan out going forward. It doesn't appear to make complete sense and could ulimately water down the very good product that has been the Championship in recent seasons. With 46 points needed to win a meeting then on the face of it there appears to be quite a disparity which will probably do nothing for the better riders willingness to increase their average beyond a certain point especially if they are on guaranteed start money because ulyimately they could be riding themselves out of a job.

Unfortunately that is very true Liz and i think if Rasser is moving on then it must be for a much more lucrative deal than we could offer. The current system or maybe more aptly lack of a system is not conducive to rider loyalty. After saying this though, certain riders at certain clubs do appear to be less mercenary . I would imagine Jake Allen would have been highy sought yet he is once again returning to Scunny who have managed to put there team together very quickly. The uncertainty around whether or not we were coming to tapes in 2019 won't have helped with getting riders secured for next season in the way that the late Ian Thomas used to do with the likes of Stoney. It's a challenge for sure but with some shrewd team building i'm confident we can once again be competitive. Circumstance and fortune play a big part in a team being successful and for a change in 2018 these attributes generally smiled upon us. I'm looking forward to see who will don the Big C in 2019 and hope they will have the ambition and professionalism displayed by the 2018 Comets whom as a unit were quite simply magnificent.

I think its safe to say that Glasgow approached a number of last seasons Worky team before our promotion did. Isn't this against protocol and another example of how speedway needs further independent control.

Danny King

It has now been confirmed on the official website that Comets are good to go in 2019 and that talks have also been held with the leader of Allerdale Council about the longer term future of the club. This is fantastic news for the speedway fan base in Cumbria and i' m absolutely delighted.

I'm really happy that the Championship looks quite strong with potentially 12 teams. Disappointed in losing Peterborough in particular as its always a good venue for watching the sport. This is somewhat tempered by Somerset returning but its a 100 miles further to travel from Worky. Somewhat surprised at Leicester dropping back down though. Maybe Birmingham returning and what chance the Isle of Wight ? I'll be much happier when someone from Worky confirms that we will be coming to tapes in 2019. Pleased to still see 7 man teams because with a shortage of riders it wouldn have made no sense to reduce further. Worryingly there appears little in the way of intiatives to improve marketing, sponsorship, entertainment, value for money, cost reduction, better fixture planning. Would liked to have seen a deadline completion date for at least the Championship Shield. Think 7 teams in the Premiership looks light so once again the Championship looks like being the most competitive.

I've also heard this figure its eye watering, whatever happened to realistic budgets based on previous season average attendance. It could be argued riders are pricing themselves out of a job and promotions out of business.

Bit of humility in order here jamlad. For what i'm hearing things not looking good for Comets coming to tapes. Don't like to see our wonderful sport on its knees. If the Tigers are struggling every club must be.

£16 is a fair price. Would i be prepared to pay more to help the club survive and attract a better team ? Yes i would. I visit Glasgow and Edinburgh to watch the Comets both of which are more expensive. I would pay £18 . £2 is neither here nor there. Would i standardise the price for adults ? , yes i would for the same reason. Kids under 16 free i have always advocated. Raise the price and expectations increase so the product and how it is presented has to be all it can be.

A very positive initiative THJ which requires the wider fan base epecially the 'hardcore' supporters to embrace in order that we can continue to have the sport we love. It's not that many months ago that Whitehaven Rugby league apealled for help from the wider community to help raise something like £60K. I was recently informed on good authority that the club are now debt free. If this was possible for them then why not the Comets ?. So come on everyone lets all look very seriously at what we can do to help secure the future of the club. Up the Comets !!

Halifaxtiger and Paulco

Is that some sort of stomach upset known to be highly contagious before and during top sporting events ?Think i might have a twinge or two coming on if it is

Totally agree Taylorj. Looking at home meetings alone of which there will be around twenty this season the average adult will have spent around £370 on admission and a program alone. Thats without attending any away meetings, food etc. During the off season its feasible fans could save some of this money possibly without missing it too much although i realise everyone has different circumstances.

News and Star Saturday October 27th 2018 Page 5 -- Laura Appeals For Financial Backing to Allow Comets to Continue in 2019 Through the News and Star Laura has admitted she cannot afford to fund the running of the Comets in 2019. She is appealing for financial backing to continue and would be happy to consider offers from people coming on board as sponsors, investing in the club or even buying the club from her but that time is of the essence with the BSPA Annual General Meeting set to be held next month. Although any possible business involvement is outside the control of the average fan we can still play a big part in any multi point financial backing strategy. Some 3 years ago when the concept of the Friends of Workington Speedway now known as the Workington Speedway Trust was first deliberated 40 people pledged at the opening meeting to contribute £500 in order to help secure the future of the sport and team we love . Unfortunately for whatever reasons the large majority of those pledges were not fulfilled. Regardess of the in and outs of the concept this vehicle is still in place for those fans who would rather see the club continue than be lost to them and the area possibly for ever. If just 40 people are willing to donate £500 a season that is £20 000 before anything else is raised. This would greatly help underpin the financial security of the club as part of a bigger financial strategy. Its up to us all as fans of the club to ask ourselves the question, would i rather help or see it go !!! NB The £500 figure is what was originally talked about and is only used as an example of what could be achieved. Best Regards SteelShoe