SteelShoe

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

Hey come on WorkyWorky none of the supposed southern softies have complained about any inhospitable elements.

I came that way monday and it was back open both ways.

The Scorpions have put themselves in a strong position for the second leg, i would be happy with an 18 point lead no doubt. The Comets have it all to do. We could count ourselves a little unfortunate not to have had a point or too more on the board last night without taking anything away from the Scorpions. Paul Starke may have scored a few more points if his starting had been better but it was poor on the night, 5 points from him would have been more than acceptable. Rasser was superb on the night and has really shown great determination in the quest to win the club its first seven man silverware. Mason Campton has improved greatly with more racing during the second half of the season and will have a huge part to play in the 2nd leg. His win in heat 12 following a second hard move in the race from Garrity after already stuffing Nicolai up down the back straight was superb and a fitting response. Rene had what will have have been a very frustrating night for him, he tried his hardest from a position of not making very good starts but just seemed to lack that bit of speed that would have brought him a few extra points. Nicolai seemed to find himself in the wrong place on more than one occasion and invariably found himself at the back when in traffic. He will have a huge part to play in the 2nd leg and is more than capable of turning last nights form on its head. Young Kyle nearly managed a second place in the reserves race and he will be looking for more at Derwent Park. Seven heat wins wasn't bad from the Comets, it was the 11 non scoring races that hurt us. Jason Garrity and Jake Allen are a formidable 3 and 4 partnership at the EWR and were responsible for 3 of the damaging 5-1's the Comets conceeded. If we can get on top of these two and make big strides into the deficit early then it will be game on and the nerves will be jangling once again. Up the Comets !!

Remember the Tigers winning it in 2011.

Yeah a lottery win would be nice .

Wow still buzzing from last night. Like most everyone else i didn't think it the least bit probable that we would overturn a 28 point deficit against a team that have ran us close at home on a couple of occasions this season. I Left Armadale friday thoroughly dejected and hugely disappointed in the nature of our defeat but i take my hat off to the whole team because they were brilliant to a man last night. Young Kyle had a big night and is clearly developing a racing edge . Was obviously detetmined to do his bit for the team and he did, his points made it possible. Well done Kyle. It was a brilliant night for the Comets fans. For those that decided Strictly Come Dancing was a better option well, you missed something special because it was one of those 'i was there nights'. You should have been there supporting the Club !. We needed a good start and we got one. The lads kept chipping away at the deficit to the point when we all started to believe it was doable at which point the seeds of doubt must have been flowing through the Monarchs side of the pits. The tension became palpable as it must have been for the Monarchs fans who probably still didn't believe there side wouldn't eventually get across the line. They must have gone away feeling like we did friday - absolutely gutted. I was so pleased for everyone concerned especially Jacko who is an unsung hero and Laura, she must have really enjoyed the performance and result. Because of the circumstances it must go down as one of the most memorable nights ever for fans of the mighty Comets. Hugely entertaining, intriguing, at times controversial and for Comets fans ultimately hugely rewarding. What more could you want for sixteen quid. Just Brilliant. Thanks to Jake Allen who seems a really grounded level headed young man who could potentially go a long way in the sport. Also thanks to the Monarchs fans that made the trip and helped boost the gate. Thanks to Hoggy who was once again brilliant on the mic. Up the Comets !!!

Think you missed Come Dancing or Strictly Come Dancing.

Well THJ i reckon after reading that depressing post of brutal reality you should change your username to THD. Total Harbinger of Doom lol. We may as well lock the gates and call an end to the season now it would at least save Laura some money she can ill afford to lose. Apart from riders getting injured the only thing that gets me down when i visit Derwent Park are nights when the crowd is poor. Poor compared to what though ?, crowd levels during the Stoney years? or to the current crowd levels of most teams in the Championship. I've visited most Championship clubs this season and doubt whether many if any teams have commanded the 850 fans you state are needed to break even. So there will be more than Worky struggling. Speedway is going through a malaise partly self created. Its contributing insidiously to its own demise, ostrich syndrome still appears to rule supreme in the corridors of speedway power. Lost fans won't come back overnight, when you have fallen out of love with something the attraction to give it another go has to be strong . Then you need to enjoy the experience and feel part of something. If we were to make the play off final and win the championship shield then that could be the catalyst. The sport desperately needs a really big sponsor but its unlikely to happen. The Comets are currently stretched beyond there means . Everyone wants an attractive winning side but the gate receipts plus additional income from sponsorship etc ain't balancing the books. So what is the answer to the problem then THJ .

Dwindling crowds are a conundrum contributed to by the amateurish way the sport has been run in recent times. Without Workington opening up their accounts no one but those very close to Laura can have knowledge of the financial structure currently in place . The club will surely have budgeted for this season based on last seasons last average gates . We do not know how crowds are doing relative to last season but i would say subjectively they are certainly no worse. We had that horrendous run of away fixtures which put a huge strain on finances but it was hoped that some of that would eventually balance out. With half as many league fixtures compared to last season one would assume overall loss potential per meeting would be lower. To quote losses of £50K to £75K if accurate is serious money and unsubstantiated. Other season losses were mooted to be around £30K. Why double with half as many league fixtures ??. The club employs a Commercial Manager whose major role is to generate income for the club. Laura quoted in a recent press article that some sports clubs generate £30-50K in sponsorship. Obviously we are not at this fairly modest looking level, a level that would surely help underpin the clubs financial security.

Just like to congratulate everyone concerned with the club on reaching our first final since 2010. That's a long time so we should all enjoy it. We should all try and encourage as many ex and new fans as possible to attend the final and lets really get behind the team. In the early stages last night i thought lady luck had deserted us but i needn't have worried. It soon became apparent that we were much the stronger. Guest Ben Barker was just sensational and fully justified his booking for Dan while we still have a facility regardless of what happened recently. All the lads made telling contributions, we looked a real solid unit without a weak looking heat on the program. Jake Allen once again caught the eye following a first ride retirement. Pulled off some stunning passes especially the pass of Rene on bend 2 when there didn't look room. Steve Worrall was solid, won well from the front but didn't offer as much when he found himself behind. Jason Garrity was well below the level he has shown in the past as was Josh Auty who unfortunately took another nasty tumble at Derwent Park. Stefan Nielsen looked to be some way off his best form following a season of injury. Gino tried while Danny looked the rider who has struggled all season. Its a tough league this. I don't know of anything that may or may not have gone on behind the scenes last night but i hope any issues can be discussed and resolved to the mutual satisfaction of all parties. I was hoping for a few more at the meeting last night and no doubt if we had been riding against one of the more passionately supported clubs many more visiting fans would have made the trip to cheer on their team in what was a nicely set up tie. Speedway at this level has financial issues and if clubs promotions and fans don't support each other then what future does the sport have. Doubling up/down put a lot of riders out of a job so talks of reducing the number of riders within thise teams lucky enough to come to tapes in 2019 will only exacerbate the relative paucity of riders . Time for astute thinking because the changes in recent years haven't improved speedway or enhanced how it is perceived by the public as a well run and entertaining product. Just the opposite if anything. Up the Comets.

Hoggy arguably the best presenter in speedway so always gonna be a miss. Thought JC done great as a stand in. As he said 'not as easy as it looks".

Very unprofessional what happened this evening. Some action needs to be taken if only to prevent this happening again in professional sport. Very few fans ever seem to make it across the 69 anyway but for the Diamonds to field such a weakened further damages the image of the sport but more importantly adds to the financial burden on the Comets promotion. Sad way for Robbo to bow out of a distinguished career, wonder if the missing riders gave any thought to this being his final meeting.

Robbo is a fine and fair speedway rider who has had more than his fair share of injuries. Just like to wish him all the very best in whatever he decides to do. A rare off night for Rasser tonight compounded by a poor show from guest Kevin Doolan precluded us getting anything from the meeting. Super show from guest Aaron Summers who had good support from Rene who was reportedly suffering from the illness that affected Rasser Saturday and also Mason who stuck at it following a sketchy first heat when he done a 360 on turn 3/4.

Maybe they realised that the rule as it stood was a load of horse pooh and was depriving the public of proper value for money let alone the loss of potential earnings for the Diamonds. Maybe just maybe common sense has prevailed but i doubt it.

Thanks Halifaxtiger . Your posts are always on the money for me. Yeah the racing not great last night but it was the result that mattered. There hax been some crackers recently though and i'm hoping we will see a few more before the season draws to a close.

Tim Hamblin reports in an article in SS that Ben Barker guests for Dan. It would appear on the face of it then that he has given backword. I await official confIrmation on this but it looks like very poor form indeed by rider and club. If you accept a guest booking then it's fair to say that should be binding. Workington forced to use NL guests for heat leaders having to ride in Poland yet the Panthers get a facility for a rider getting married during the season. Something smells somewhere and it always seems to be the same promotions looking to morally undermine the sport .

With Nicolai's Polish team riding in the 1st leg of the play-off final on Sunday 16th does this mean we are back in the NL only guest scenario again for the ttip to Newcastle ?