GiveusaB

Well said!

When I say 'he knows his stuff'.....I dont mean that he can magic quality riders up...I believe that he knows what a reasonable mid-table side requires.

No, because I don't know what B'ham's budget is ?

I'm not....LR knows his stuff and he also knows that fans wont turn up to watch garbage...

Money talks....and any rider would ride in the Championship for the right wage...'I believe'! Smolinski/Covatti would be my choices. Adam Ellis is riding Denmark, so how would he fit in?

Getting back on thread....what would B'ham fans preference be to how we utilise the remaining 20.51 points to complete the team? 2.5 on a reserve and 2 X 9.00 riders? That would certainly make for a strong line-up and change people's opinion of us finishing bottom.

May have read this wrong....but speedway in the 70's was far more appealing/entertaining than speedway of today...IMO

I think it will be us/Newcastle and Scunthorpe battling it out for 'bottom' spot....no surprises!

Hooray....somebody that doesn't have B'ham bottom! LOL (now that's not bad considering we don't know our final 3)

Well the riders certainly have great role models for a pantomime....'BSPA'!!!

Great prices for the youth....I think the problem with 'youth' pricing is that you can never tell what age they are and you'll get 14 year olds pretending to be 11 in some cases. I'd look at charging £2.50 for all youths up to 16......may be under 5's go free....it's a tough one and always going to be a challenge. Look at running a competition in local newspapers to win tickets..... Offer local schools free tickets to get new attendees. Advertise....give out free/discounted tickets at local shopping Centres. Put adverts in B'ham/Villa football programme's.... Just throwing it out there....

Covatti would be incredible! Can't see Sedgman or Proctor adding any value.

Plus kids are far more lazy these days....they'd rather get behind a games console!

We need to take advantage of the Commonwealth games...... There's going to be a lot of visitors to the area this summer, we need to try and entice these visitors to come and see some speedway on a Wednesday evening!

Birmingham have been great where kids are concerned since the Masons took charge. The problem I think at Perry Barr, is from a spectator's/viewing position, it's cr#p for kids! (it's not much better for adults unless you go indoors....'personally, I hate watching from indoors'....)

At the end of the day, speedway as a product is poor IMO....whatever changes anyone makes wont make a difference to any newcomer....it's the old faithful and neutral that we need to aim at.

Yes, I guess that's about right.... And, I'm not quite sure there are.... There's not enough 'young blood' showing a continuous interest by looks of things. I liken speedway to a family business - if there isn't enough family members coming through, then the business struggles to exist. We're trying to sell a sport where your country's best rider/performer, doesn't compete in his own country? Unless we can swing over a few ex Cov/Cradley fans on an occasional basis, we're going to have a tough time....

Quite right! That's why I think a 'Championship Survival team' is more realistic than a 'Championship winning team'.... Entertainment and value for money would be my priority as a business venture. I think the promotion are addressing that by laying a new surface....'spot on'!

Still got 3/4 months to boost season ticket sales.... Just my opinion, but I doubt 'B'ham fans will be holding out to buy a season ticket based on who the next signing will be? You're either a supporter (supporter being the operative word) or not?! The make up of the team, will affect the 'casual/occasional' supporter....as I said, just the way I look at it. I personally think that the 'Boss/LR', knows enough about speedway, to know that a competitive side is imperative to survival.... Barring injuries, B'ham won't be the whipping boys of the division!

Top 4 for me = Poole-Glasgow-Redcar and Plymouth. I think our aim (Bham) will just be, to finish the season

Difficult for me to call a favourite until I see all line-ups completed? Redcar look equally as strong as Glasgow IMO....3 decent hitters in Wright/Kerr/Riss....

Poole fans will when Glasgow win the league (just kidding...) Looks a very strong side....hoping to see Tom Brennan kick on this season. I think Glasgow's success depends a lot on Oyster and whether he comes back as strong as he finished?

Looks a reasonable side....not League winning IMO....the only one that I can see improving his average is possibly Jack Thomas....(wish we could've kept him) Batchelor is very hot/cold....Nicholls is great at this level, but not getting any younger and may struggle if he doesn't make starts.... Good luck to Oxford....great to see a 'new' speedway venture, instead of the usual doom and gloom.

as previously stated....for me, it's about the product and not the result....I'd have stopped going a long time ago if it was about results. I agree though....we definitely need a big hitter to join the ranks...someone that can win Heats 1 and 15 home and away. I'm sure LR knows this and is no doubt working on a plan. The website says that talks are in progress with a couple of riders.....hopefully, proven, 'good riders'!

This wages business seems to be about 'opinion' ? I don't think its anyone's business other than the club/rider. Doesn't mean to say it's not of interest to the supporter....hence the word 'supporter' I guess?