Tinker

Don't fully understand people on here suggesting that riders will suffer financially with one league as they won't be able to double up. One league, however, with say eleven teams will give them 20 meetings for starters plus cup matches, play offs, local challenges, individuals etc. On another note and yes, I do keep harping on here about variety, but if there are two leagues why not have all teams involved in one Knockout Cup like football's FA Cup. Sponsorship for a decent prize fund would be a good start and have a proper run draw with no "fixes" like Poole v Plymouth or Belle Vue v Sheffield. All Championship sides to be given an advantage by having just the one home leg if they're drawn against a Premiership team. If two Premiership sides or Championship sides are drawn together then two legs home and away will be the order of the day. Realise there would be things to work out re Prem riders being paid if riding away to a Championship side but surely problem not insurmountable. It would give the sport more variety and imagine if say Plymouth were to beat Ipswich on their own patch. Not only would it be a great boost for the club but market it right and could be financial gains for an increased crowd.

Yes, I know what you're saying but Glasgow v Edinburgh is a local derby where away fans will travel in numbers to create that "special" atmosphere. I probably watched the match you're referring to on BSN and it certainly was a cracker. I only used BV v KL as an example. A Monday night meeting and I can't see KL bringing many fans (if any) to either Match 1, 2 or 3 plus the KO Cup if they were drawn together! I'm basically crying out for some variation and I personally don't care what standard of riders we have as long as they are evenly matched with close racing.

The top brass don't seem to have any long term plan and go from one mess to another. We were told that some major changes were happening next year and that the AGM was only going to be a case of finalising everything. But look where we are now! They should have foreseen what was happening and definitive plans should have been put in place months if not a year ago. Essentially, scrap the two league system and run one league. If that league mirrors the Championship more than the Premiership then so be it. Still entertaining racing to be had with more variety of teams and riders. If things had been thought out properly I'm sure they could come up with 14 or so balanced teams. It's all been said before but a 5 team Premiership is totally unviable, teams meeting each other at least 6 times over a season just will not work. Quite frankly it's laughable. Belle Vue v Kings Lynn for the third time .... no thanks! Belle Vue v Glasgow for the first time .... yes please! Etc etc.

If the AGM has indeed been postponed then one would assume the powers that be will announce this fact pdq. There may be some sensitive pieces of information that they can't release at the present time but wouldn't it make a change for once if they attempted to keep fans in the loop as much as possible. Come clean for once and say it how it is instead of constantly staying in the shadows.

If that's the case then rather worrying times and proverbially suggests trouble at the mill. In my view, the Premiership cannot run with only five teams. Home and away at least three times, how boring is that? Other suggestions on here (either true or false) such as Northampton basing themselves at Oxford smacks of desperation. I can understand why Championship clubs do not want to take the risk of moving up so not really sure what the answer is ..... probably one league at Championship level with a great deal more variety at least.

Dexter Fitzwilliam-Cartwright I presume. First pupil to get his own motor vehicle. Used to park it next to Mrs Bridges, the chemistry teacher. 😉

Uncle Dexter I think?

Hope this wasn't a wind up otherwise a bit of a daft thing to say. What's your source of info?

From what I have read over the past year or so, Sweden seems to be in more of a mess than the UK? Various tracks owing substantial amounts of money, riders not being paid, lack of homegrown talent etc.

I realise there would be many pitfalls with one league but for me personally, I think it would be a breath of fresh air for the sport. Glasgow versus Belle Vue, Kings Lynn versus Edinburgh, Plymouth versus Sheffield etc. I know it probably isn't going to happen but as a BSN subscriber, I have looked forward to watching the Championship meetings much more this year than the top tier. The Championship seems to be more gritty with more committed riders. The recent matches between Poole and Glasgow and Poole and Redcar were great adverts for the sport and for excitement and entertainment value easily eclipsed any of this year's GP's. Finally an appeal to the guys in charge (and remember of the radical changes being mentioned), if there are to be two separate leagues then please do not run the Premiership with five teams only. It would surely sound the death knell, same teams/riders every other week and the playoffs would be a mockery. Let's hope they are going to spring one or two surprises and pull some major news and/or changes out of the proverbial hat!

Congrats to Redcar. Great to see the team deprive Poole of a clean sweep. Watching Jody Scott ride was brill, all over the track both inside and outside. One to watch next year for defo. Also great to see what it meant to Gavin Parr, well done to all involved!

I hope upon hope that if the Premiership remains in its current form next year, there are more than five teams contesting it. Five teams would not only be boring but would make a mockery of the sport. It was bad enough with seven teams but five teams (maybe racing each other six times in the league alone) would be madness. Fans would soon switch off with the same riders week in, week out. If the two leagues do not amalgamate (my preferred option but I understand the pitfalls), then please have at least seven teams in the Premiership.

Agree with most comments made on this thread. Watched on BSN, very exciting with some breathtaking action and really showed speedway in a very good light. Must admit I've enjoyed the Championship meetings more than the Premier ones. Congrats to Poole, always a well oiled machine. A big mention to Glasgow for always being in the mix and finally two other teams which I have enjoyed watching this year:- Edinburgh, good to see them on the rise again and unlucky not to make the final. Plymouth, a small club and some people knock their track but always close and entertaining racing. Look forward to more action next year.

Here here!

I think the performance of Flint tonight is pivotal. He's rather hit and miss and needs to ride well if Glasgow are to keep the scores close. Additionally, the Glasgow reserves are going to have to ride out of their skins to beat their opposite numbers. Intriguing stuff. It sometimes baffles me when riders use excuses like the track is different to last time, can't find the right set up etc etc. The likes of Bomber and Howarth have ridden there many times in the past so there should be no excuses. I'm a neutral and subscribe to BSN and although my nearest tracks are Belle Vue and Sheffield I have definitely enjoyed watching the Championship this year as opposed to the Premiership. As a northerner, come on Glasgow! Let's make sure those trophies are shared out.