TotallyHonestJohn

Had another night shift am afraid, to knackered to get involved at the moment. Full English at 2am. cant afford to have the house burnt down... lol As for beauty sleep a don't think kipping for 12 month solid would have any benefit on this fizzog these days. More like Arm Pitt than Brad Pitt... no wonder the CIA use sleep deprivation as a torture Regards THJ

Honestly Nice change of direction and a different face, maybe not expected? but could be a sign that the whole team will get an overhaul and good luck to the promotion it shows Martin Phillips is giving it a serious go Regards THJ

Sorry pal been a bit tied up again tonight and just catching up on my reading now... Looks like it has been a busy night and you have been doing a bit of your usual Tiger Baiting... Think someone answered your question on the Glasgow thread... You should get your rod over Northside Bridge I think with the bites you are having of late you've got the chance of catching a salmon lol Regards THJ

Honestly If my Aunt had a pair of balls she would have been my Uncle now wouldn't she? But she hasn't and isn't so it's all pie in the sky!!! Isn't it? H18tory... Treble winning Comets end of? Regards THJ

Singy13 you are a bit of a "Nosy Parker" on the quiet mind aren't you... however I will humour you with a response in deference to being open and honest. Where I spend my cash is my choice to be fair; and last year I sponsored 10 riders , 4 at Newcastle; 2 at Workington; 1 at Glasgow; 1 at Scunthorpe; 1 at Redcar and 1 at Berwick; and through the business I injected £46k into speedway in 2018, that was my commitment to the sport last year and since 2009 I have put in around £150k into the sport in total; primarily in rider sponsorship. I have been fortunate to be in a position to do so and that following a major impact to my business in 2010 when Rok plc collapsed and the fall out from that company going into administration cost me £590k wiping out my personal pension fund and it has been really difficult to maintain this level of support in speedway over the years but I did: I am not sure how I managed to do this whether it was good management or just good luck however I pulled the business back up from the brink; building it back up into a profitable entity and I would like to think that was down to the former rather than the latter. Unfortunately this year saw the loss of my main contract to a French company called Engie and that took £1.2M out of my turnover, so that is going from the "Sublime to the Ridiculous" to be fair and where I could have run a Speedway team writing off losses against Corporation Tax that now isn't going to happen. I do have enough personal disposable cash to finance a team and was approached to be a promoter this year, but why should I pump in thousands of pounds of my own money into something that will never be a viable business under the current constraints. I would like to think I am a competent enough businessman to run a Speedway operation, not just the team but the whole mechanics behind it to make a profit; however I have never been exposed to such a ramshackle way to do business and unless it changes or I could influence change I am not the guy to take it forward, I have had enough now and I have only had 18/24 month of serious involvement. So I can happily waste my time on watching football that will cost me around £60 to £100 quid for a day/night out and without any of the hassle or grief that comes with running a Speedway team saving me a fortune in the long run. I am happy to do my bit; and in 2018 I have done every job in the club from track electrician, programme and 50/50 ticket seller to team manager and helped with (and put cash into) the Workington Speedway Trust who raised £12k last year and £16k the season before with some really committed fans who want to see speedway survive in West Cumbria and certainly do not have the disposable funds I have access to but the do fantastic work. However I keep asking myself what is the point? You baulked at the suggestion of the removal of the concession at Derwent Park which would have mitigated all be it in a very small way to reducing the losses of the club, after all it is nothing other clubs have not done, but you were vehemently against that so why should anyone pump in thousands of pounds of their own cash to subsidise other fans speedway without it at least being viable. After all what is another £3 quid or a fiver for that matter if it was the difference to having or not having Speedway. Look at the Berwick thread they are going through the same pain... Now on this little chestnut, my Dad had a brain haemorrhage nearly 4 year ago in January 2015 and had cranioscopy surgery then a follow up operation where a Titanium plate was fitted in lieu of removed bone, which was the first successful cranioscopy surgery and reconstructive follow up works carried out on an octogenarian at the RVI Newcastle ever (so he's a bit of a celebrity in there) (they had tried it 7 times previous and all the others didn't make it unfortunately). However since this event happened he now has Vascular Dementia and I have lived with him since he came out of hospital primarily to stop the need for him going into residential care. (why? because I am in the fortunate position where I can) Unfortunately with this disease he can get his self a bit confused and sometimes he wakes up at midnight and thinks it is dinner time like Monday night Tuesday morning, added to which he actually thought it was Sunday and wanted a Sunday dinner. I only wished it was as simple as doing a Night Shift at work believe me; he had a water infection last month and it was the first time I had ever heard anyone "speaking in tongues" and made the David Baddiel documentary about his father’s dementia, "The Trouble with Dad" both hilarious and tragic at the same time because if you don't laugh you will end up in tears and driven round the bend. So to answer your question no I was not checking all were awake? and if you have gleaned anything from the comments above there is no need to do a night shift for the business I own as that like my old boy it is pretty stuffed as well, furthermore I was led to believe that only Whores and Policemen done night shift, (oh sorry!!! and Paulco!!! whatever he does? sorry Paulco) So I hope I have answered your questions and posts to your satisfaction. At the end of the day I am only an ordinary Puff not an Octo-Puff I only have one pair of hands not eight and can only juggle so many balls at once, oh and added to which my daughter is about to have ones first grandchild in the next week or two so that's something else to contend with. Ho Ho Ho feckin Ho Speedway? Sometimes I haven't got time to have a S***e let alone do anything else!!!! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers Regards THJ

You will have to tell me who this is as I have been involved with all the deals done this year and I can guarantee there has been no impropriety as far as I am aware or concerned... so I for one would love the hear what you have heard... Regards THJ

Don't disagree and I have done the same through my business since 2009... however the Glasgow promotion have stated they have made 6 figure losses since taking over... would it not be a good idea for these businesses to support the club first and mitigate those losses rather than give the riders further inducements? after all it's the club who pay the riders wages and without the club there would be no team for the riders to race in or any speedway at all... it doesn't add up in any way shape or form to me! Regards THJ

Honestly If that is the team and it comes in under the 38 point limit then Redcar will be a force to be reckoned with in 2019, that team looks so understated it reminds me of the Workington side that cleaned up last season. No one you would class as an out and out number 1 however 6 riders who could all fill the No1 slot, impressive to say the least Regards THJ

Agreed and that was the case last year as well; as one guy I sponsor was given a £6k sign on however he chose to take two bikes instead of the sign on money. It worked out better for him as it probably stretched to about £8.5k of gear rather than £6k of cash and that was fully funded from a sponsor rather than the club. But I don't think anything was handed back at the end of the year, however deals have always been sweetened by fringe benefits in every job not just sport. Regards THJ

Honestly I know the two deals were not that far apart on points money, it was the "add on's" and fringe benefits that swung the deal, and again being honest I did not get to find out what those "add on's" were (and if I did I wouldn't be putting it out on here that's for sure) but at the end of the day Workington's last offer fell short so that was the end of it, and again at the end of the day if Glasgow can afford it they can offer what they want with as many bells and whistles attached. It is between the rider and the club and that's it. In fact even if they cant afford it they can still offer what the want. Ultimately a rider will do what he perceives as to what is best for himself and his career and there isn't much loyalty in sport these days and that is any sport for that matter not just Speedway. Finally you know what my grump was, (and it wasn't the deal) so I wont rake over those coals again. Mr Uluru from down under has made a valid point as too has Sing13 and Glasgow have paid over their monies and they will take their chance on a rider who is a hot property at the moment and definitely a talent on a bike and like most Danes is a consummate professional who; and again if I am totally honest was a pleasure to work with last season and always gave 100% effort; when others sometimes spat the dummy, So I do hope he kicks on this season and the Glasgow fans get see what he can do. #SpecialJ I will watch his progression through the sport with interest, he's a genuine kid (and his old man is a good lad too) and a talented Speedway rider whose aggression and control on a bike was fantastic to watch. Regards THJ

Promotions are held accountable, if a rider complains to the BSPA about unpaid wages the BSPA sets a deadline for the payments to be met and if that doesn't happen their licence is pulled effectively shutting them down, its a last resort however, it has happened in the past. (no names no pack drill). I know personally of three sides who delayed (or had problems with) payments and came mightily close to the ultimate sanction being applied just saving themselves by finding the funds to pay the riders at the eleventh hour so to speak. Regards THJ.

Aye am coming round to your way of thinking Paulco and a was doing a night shift of me own unfortunately Regards THJ

I have sponsored Steve since his days at Newcastle and cash certainty wasn't the driver for him wanting away... and it wasn't anything said or done by Scunny either... next time he is at Scunny ask him and he will give you a straight answer as he's that type of guy... You are correct when you state travel time and distance are key and these were a main factor in Steve going to Scunny last year coupled of course with his young family and he does now have a considerable journey on his hands certainly compared to what he was used to doing... Regards THJ

Nah just getting fed up with it to be honest it's getting boring now (and not just the tosh on here, the whole set up of Speedway is pish poor)... av said and made my piece an av moved on... it's the persecution complex of nobody loves us an everybody hates us that's starting to get on my thruppeny bits now... everyone knows what's happened and what is going on and if no one is prepared to do anything about it so be it... don't keep trying to defend it though at every opportunity or try and turn it round like it's everyone else to blame and not Glasgow... whether aggressively or with humour... however I do hope I am still around to see what happens this time next year as that will be the good one when the sums are added up let's see what is said and what happens then... but enjoy it for now and make hay while the sun shines... Now seriously starting to think my cash will be stopping in my pocket this year... and if Ashley sells Newcastle I might even get my season ticket back and kiss the shale goodbye... Finally don't forget there was always Flodden and Culloden... oh and the Benton Rugby Club tour of 1984 and the bloodbath that was the 18 - 14 win in Anniesland against the mighty Glasgow Accies... Regards... Big J. (And you've definitely got me with that one) THJ

An ya don't care that much not to bite an continually cry ya eyes oot on here. Nae body loves us they all hate us... change the record Jock you've been usin that yan since Bannockburn... boo hoo.. Regards THJ

IDS more like IBS with the "Jockanory" crowd on here... PMSL. Braveheart and cry freedom... Regards THJ

Karma I'm a great believer in it Let's wait and see what happens Regards THJ

Wouldn't want to confirm anything to you as you haven't got a clue and if the truth come up and bit you on the ass... you would still deny it... told you best thing Glasgow could do is go big league and it would save them money... it's like sticking Rangers in the third division and saying you cant come out of that league.. oh hang on they done that and look what happened was it 4 or 5 seasons and they were back in the top flight? And why? Money.... they bought their way back to the top..... what is happening here is a joke... and sniping riders when they have agreed contracts with other clubs isn't right and you know it isn't... you can not defend the indefensible... Regards THJ

Don't deal in bull sadly and it's riders plural. Even LM quoting it in SS Also I wouldn't embarrass the riders or their families by naming them as they have stayed loyal to their respective clubs but not for the want of Glasgows relentless efforts and I consider these people also as close friends. Plus this is a Scunthorpe thread. Regards THJ

OOH OOH Mr Peevly Mr Peevly Sarj and Jensen fit? Regards THJ

Sarj will be heading West Coast (Luckily) Clegg on the other hand I am not sure at all where he will end up, Regards THJ

Honestly Couldn't say anything until now however, once it was known that Steve wasn't going back to Scunny a Worky promoter rang Rob Godfrey and the conversation went along the lines of.. WP. Rob are you not using Steve Worrall this year RG. Nope WP. Oh that's interesting RG. Yep WP. Any issues if we give him a call RG. Nope WP. And you have your team sorted RG. Yep WP. So no problem if we end up using him RG. Nope WP. He's a Belle Vue asset isn't he RG. Yep WP. As he is Belle Vue asset do we need to ring them? with them being in the top league RG. Nope WP. Cheers for that Rob; Bye RG. Bye Those who know Rob will be aware he rarely uses two words when one will do!!! Again; and although not necessary; the Worky Promoter rang Belle Vue to tell them what was happening, BEFORE he got someone to "Text" Steve Worrall to see if he would be interested in coming to Workington. So no Gazumping by Workington as much as you would like it to be otherwise, every part of the deal was done as it should be. Permission asked of Scunthorpe and granted by them with everyone happy Unlike the Mob you follow and defend to the hilt. Contacting riders through the back door and offering £10k sign on fees to reserves. I don't know who advises the Facinas however I know that being sited "to far north" was one of the reasons for Glasgow not going into the top league and the travelling implications, however riders do not usually get sign on fees in the Premiership and with the wages Glasgow pay comparable (or as near as dam it) to Premiership riders the money they saved on "Sign on's" would more than cover the mileage expenses even at 0.20p per mile. 1000 mile round trips for 7 riders over 12 away matches only comes in at £16,800 which is less than the sign on fees being offered to two point reserves. DOH!!! The sooner Glasgow go up the better for me as they just "queer the pitch" for everyone else For Scunny fans missing Steve I appreciate you have lost a good rider however whilst he was out most of last season you coped admirably without him (and others to be fair) and I don't think he will be that big a miss for the Scorp's this year as Rob has pulled together a well balanced side. The Scorp's big tests will be against Sheffield and Glasgow as from what I have seen so far both will have strong sides; and closely followed by Leicester and Somerset of the sides who have declared so far. There will be greater pressure placed on young and/or inexperienced shoulders this year; more so than usual. Anyone who has reserves or 4 point riders who can hit the ground running and put a point and a half or two on their averages will end up in very strong positions. Someone has to win these reserve races and races where they are up against each other and I can see some of these kids on false 5 to 6 point averages by mid season. However this begs another question if someone gets injured and you are building to 38 points I would assume that this 38 point figure will be passed after the first months rolling averages are issued meaning like for like changes only so lets hope the Scorp's have got over their injury jinx as the fun will start this year if you are racked by injuries again? Or if you need to drop another rider another set of rules will apply just to complicate the matter. Regards THJ

Breaking News - Big Date for the Calendar Gerry Cinnamon Announced Glasgow 24th December Regards THJ

Josh McDonald would come in on a 4.00 average and Dan will probably not be ready for the start of the season Regards THJ

They aren't and No.... Or at least he didn't think so when chatting to him last Saturday... as much as he wants to... Regards THJ