SteelShoe

If you determine fitness for purpose as not losing money you may only end up with a couple of clubs. Last season it was widely recognised that nearly all clubs with the odd exception lost money, Championship and Premiership. Combined losses mooted to be around £900K.

Deeply deeply saddened indeed by this announcement. Has enough been done to try and raise enough to mitigate against the expected losses that would be incurred next season? well there has certainly been no figures produced about the sums that may be needed and the possibility of an appeal to fans and the wider public such as what helped save the Monarchs. To the parties that pledged financial backing all I can say is where is your integrity, words are indeed cheap. Speedway is in deep trouble, currently it's a mickey mouse setup which is a huge shame because it is deserving of so much better. What other supposedly professional sport would have no prize money for winning the league/major trophies, with the clubs having to pay for their own medals. Then to add insult to injury fine the winning club £3000 for not completing its final fixture at the 3rd legitimate attempt thereby compounding the losses already incurred. The AGM instigated nothing that will reduce the costs of the sport to the riders or increase the entertainment/value for money to fans. I love speedway but it is in serious need of a blood transfusion if it is to stay alive. Up the Comets.

James Shanes has bags of potential, very good signing in my opinion.

Proven top 3 all of whom are racers which will be great for entertaining racing. The other 4 have lots of promise. Much could depend on whether Jordy Stewart kicks on in the main body and how Tom Bacon and Nathan Greaves come back following injury. Ben Barker should increase what is a bargain average, Wrighty will easily maintain his. The only slight question marks is around MPT on a near 8. Lot of promise then but much depends on whether it will be realised.

Investment in facilities is fine but don't think this is being done for the benefit of the speedway fans. How will this affect chances of staging the likes of the PLRC. ? Will the back straight be opened up ?

Lot of question marks now around the potency of the 2019 Comets team. The realisation of the watering down impact of the 38 point team limit is hitting home and imo this is not a good move for a league that has been super competitive in recent seasons. Have to say the personal excitement felt when last seasons team was announced especially the prospect of watching Dan is not at the same level this time around. Think we could have a long tail away from Derwent Park. Looking forward to seeing Josh Mcdonald. The young Aussies are usually racers but its going to be a season of learning for Josh with the resultant high and lows. Personally i see Simon as a decent reserve who will be riding second string which may prove challenging especially away from home. Overall then a bit apprehensive about our prospects but its.great.to know we have speedway next season when it really didn't look like we were going too. Up the Comets. !

That team is solid right through and if performing to expected level should make the play-offs.

I'd be happy enough with that team if i was a Bandits fan. Good to hear the riders have been conducive to a pay cut in order to help the club.

Welcome back Tero, pretty sure the Diamonds fans will be disappointed. Could be a big season for the likeable Finn who has shown signs in recent seasons of being capable of taking the next step of achieving consistent heat leader status. If this does materialise then it can only help in the big heats.

Simon appears to be strongly rumoured but its not been announced yet. There are other options if indeed Aussie Josh McDonald is actually Comets bound , Nathan Greaves , Mark Riss, Mikkel B Andersen, Tom Bacon , Fernando Garcia and possibly others. Simon divides opinion, he can look limited at times especially on smaller tracks but he has put in some sterling performances in big meetings for Peterborough Panthers in recent seasons. Without doubt it's at reserve where his experience would be of most benefit to the team but if rumours are true then that position will be taken by Josh McDonald whom i know very little about but whom i think will need time to find his feet in what is still a tough league despite the fact that there will be more 2 pointers at reserve this season.

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