Crump99

Well a month sure is a long time in speedway - From our club statement a month ago: "we can only stress that the club needs you more than ever at this moment. We are not giving up, so please do not give up on us. As a management team, we feel it is best to be completely open and honest with everyone and explain the situation, however difficult things are, and we will continue to do this over the coming weeks. We remain committed to having the best season we can, and if it is to be our last season we want everyone to have fun, make memories and enjoy the racing at one of the best tracks and finest venues in the sport." Doesn't really agree with best efforts and keeping the supporters onboard? Given that we've already lost to Ippo at the EoES I'm not sure what killing the first leg due to lack of effort is going to help with the racing, fun and memories for semi-final 2?

It'll be the latter IMO (although some may belong to the supporters club?) because nothing is going to happen without a fight and unless there is something that we don't know then I think that Chapman potentially did his negotiating last year and is just running the clock down without a fuss as agreed? Time will tell. It might change in a couple of weeks when we see the AEPG planning application.

Hasn't Chapman said enough times that he wants out? Every time Peterborough has been in this position over the years (when the infrastructure wasn't under threat) we were always told that there isn't a queue of buyers (usually one if you're lucky) lining up to take over the club. If Tomalin is interested, and I'm not convinced that he is, then Chapman's options are to at least take something for the pension fund (yes he may lose out a bit but that's far from certain and possibly based on a lengthy fight and pipe dream) or lose the only interest he's likely to get and end up with nothing.

The silent happy clappers & noisy keyboard warriors scenario has been going on as long as I've been on the internet. Just remind them that in 16 weeks their pain will be over and they'll have to find something else to do/support, for ever. I'd be interested to know who penned this: "we can only stress that the club needs you more than ever at this moment. We are not giving up, so please do not give up on us" because that really is a two way situation and the management team are basically creating an atmosphere on and off track where everyone does indeed just give up on them.

Pedant! On checking though you are correct (The Whisky Priest). The Google search took me to that quote with the wrong show detailed If only Peterborough Speedways problems could be corrected so easily

The club is clearly following The Four Stage Strategy as explained in the first episode of Yes, Prime Minister - we're at 3.5 now: In stage one we say “nothing is going to happen” In stage two we say “something may be going to happen but we should do nothing about it” In stage three we say “maybe we should do something about it, but there’s nothing we can do” In stage four we say “maybe there’s something we could have done, but it’s too late now”

Our club was doing fine until Holdergate. Chapman allegedly needed clubs to make up the numbers, no more than that IMO. He's been pretty well AWOL and silent ever since takeover, always allegedly continually wanting out and leaving others to run the show but then usually showing up when there is something to break. If the likes of Oakes, Frost, Rathbone etc had been running Peterborough Speedway then they would be out there fighting hard to keep the club going. What have we heard from the current owner? One centre green message at the end of last season saying that he'd secured the 2023 season, but at what cost? He's been silent ever since. We get Mick Bratley on local radio fighting hard for the club which says much about the current administration?

Is that the one allegedly still interested in buying the club? He must be pretty confident in his position and there must be a lot of work going on behind the scenes because from the outside looking in (and the club has admitted as such) it's 16 weeks left of a season worse than 2022 (and that's some trick) before the club folds for good? I'm all for waiting to see the submitted AEPG plan but if we've got anything to counter their position and our impending demise then it's about time to put something out there. The only "dramatic change of circumstances" will come initially from public opposition so if the club really is serious about not continuing just to roll over then that stink needs to start pdq. He needs to reply to the message telling them to get a shift on.

On what basis? It's going to need to be a bit more factually constructive and targetted than a bit of noise. We're history in 16 weeks

The club was equally at fault, if not more so as they didn't need to gamble on an injured 45/46 year old. If this didn't set alarm bells ringing then I don't know what would: Pedersen admits that since his last hip fracture, he has had to prepare wisely - I used to run a lot. I like to do it, but at the moment I'm cycling instead. Even though I don't have any pain now, the long term concern is not to cause any damage and not to let my pelvic pain come back. I broke it, which affected my left leg. Everything is in the right place, but now, instead of pushing it while running, it is better to put less pressure on the pelvis by cycling, concludes Nicki Pedersen. sportowefakty 23/2/23

Fair point although not clear that such provision appears in the local plan, but no doubt PCC would look favourably to any planning application aligned with the climate cult & Net Zero disaster. The nearest item in the plan appears to be Policy LP31: "Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Low Carbon Energy". If they didn't want Peterborough Speedway to survive at the EoES or elsewhere in the city then it'd be interesting to know who initiated LP30 "Existing Culture, Leisure, Tourism and Community Facilities" and why it was included? They'd have been well aware in 2019 of any minimal environmental impact.

True. Remember at the public meeting the other week as well when they told residents not to discuss things on social media. I see that it's also all going a bit Pete Tong with Truckfest as well? Had to laugh a this: Councillor Julie Stevenson, one of the area’s representatives on Peterborough City Council, said: “This is part of the problem with transport management here. "When we get a huge influx of drivers from elsewhere in the country they're not necessarily aware that the area round the Showground is now very much more residential than it was a decade ago. "Residents of Orton Southgate and Orton Northgate are experiencing huge delays getting in and out of their homes today. And that's just one small event. AEPG want to flood the area daily 24/7

I did think that but they are getting more vocal in the local press and that needs to be challenged (mud sticks, however seemingly unrealistic), even with that proviso that everyone needs to see their planning proposal so that it can be checked against the provisions within the PCC local plan.

Look at his smiling face - he doesn't believe it either And as for “We want this to be something that Peterborough is incredibly proud of and which stands out as unique and UK leading.” - we've already got that, it's called Peterborough Speedway so hopefully PCC do their job and tell AEPG where to get off!

All the more reason for the club management and supporters club (and even the BSPA now that they suddenly found a voice with Wolverhampton) to start making a public stink now to ensure that that doesn't happen

Ashley Butterfield, chief executive of AEPG, said: “Peterborough is massively under supplied for leisure, fitness, health and wellness and sports." Well it will be if you get your way. We await sight of the planning application with the retention of Peterborough Speedway or its relocation, at AEPG's cost, elsewhere in line with LP30 “There is a huge need for everything we are doing and we are making sure that is what the council wants to see in Peterborough. “The appetite of operators is enormous for such activities because they know the demand is there. “These activities will be incredibly popular for the people of Peterborough.” “We want this to be something that Peterborough is incredibly proud of and which stands out as unique and UK leading.” Can't knock him effort 18 months and 3 years? That timescale is surprising and give up plenty of hope, but with only 16 weeks of existence left you hope the efforts are seriously ramping up behind the scenes. IF AEPG are allegedly "working closely with Peterborough City Council" then we need to be as well.

Without making it easy for people they'll not get hundreds so the club (possibly the supporters club if Chapman doesn't want to rock the boat) need to draw up a downloadable template/s, with the addition of the details of where it needs to go (preferably e-mail for ease), so that supporters only have to enter their personal details and date it. That should bump up the numbers, especially if the request is circulated elsewhere via social media.

Not according to LP30 he doesn't. I think that's the battle ground, if he is interested in buying a speedway club, which I'm not convinced that he is (didn't Frost say that it seemed like a good idea at the time, based on a bit of sponsorship and a visit? And that was in the good times of Skysports Elite League) along with whatever agreement the club's owner made with AEPG when we got a full 2023 when initially the doors were going to close mid season?

On the BSF. LP30, m "The proposal includes the provision of a new facility of a similar nature and of a similar or greater size in a suitable on or off-site location." - that's the bit that you need to focus on - AEPG and PCC need to be held accountable for that local plan provision. If you want fans to do something then get them to contact their councillor and MP with that request, that's not too difficult or taxing. It's the club that's being silent and you'd hope that they are working behind the scenes on this? Who is actually up for the fight and willing to stick with this long term? Can't see the owner being up for it and apart from that we're seemingly rudderless. AEPG having issues and their development slows, giving us a stay of execution for 2 or 3 seasons at the EoES is the only hope IMO. It'll be important that someone keeps an eye on the speedway infrastructure at the end of August to ensure that AEPG don't damage any of it. They can't do that without meeting LP30.

He's been around long enough to know that it comes with the territory. I'm sure that he's had plenty from Lynn. Peterborough had the Swales laying in to forums, Frost calling out the keyboard warriors many times, including calling some supporters (although he'd dispute that) worthless, and Hans saying that he has better things to do than read & bother about internet forums. Bratters had his moments with forums as well. Running two clubs on a budget to make up the numbers might have been laudable at the time but even you must see that speedway for the sake of it without ambition or success isn't going to receive high praise and thanks. Yes it's always great to be running but it always goes pear shaped pretty quickly (2021 was a lucky/freak year when everything fell in to place) and that's how it stays.

That's true. "Holdergate" and his reaction was still fresh in the memory. You make it sound like it was our choice and we should be pleased with sustainable speedway and under achievement apart from one fluke year.

Is there a lot of hate? A few people are disappointed and are looking for a target. The BSF is like Twitter, not the real world. MT set himself up to being that target by communicating with seemingly unresolved issues still hanging around. A shrewd businessman he may be but that's usually a negative where speedway is concerned as you delve in to the shark infested custard of speedway promotion and its owners. It's a steep learning cure.

And the cord snaps back! I'm not sponsored by Bratters by the way but what goes around comes around as our captain once said - and from a over a decade ago when it took real effort without electronic assistance : Bratters' final Panthers blog on "Lovespeedway24" During my time at Peterborough, I have done everything humanly possible to attract newcomers to our sport and all I might add on little or no budget. I have presented to over 2500 kids in various schools road show initiatives, I have invited and hosted whole organisations along for free and whole streets along for free. I have put up banners and posters, I have given away 1000’s of (sponsored) car stickers and more kids goodie bags than you can shake a stick at. I have offered free admission to members of the thriving local Polish club (one person came – once), 2 for 1 offers, Kids for a quid and Kids for free. We have on occasions been overrun by hundreds of Scout groups and I have undertaken umpteen radio interviews and quite a few local TV vox pops. I have put leaflets in newspapers, I have put leaflets through letterboxes, I have handed leaflets out in shopping malls and I have put 1000’s of leaflets on cars (with apologies to the owner of the Blue Vauxhall Astra in the Peterborough Railway Station Car Park in September 2007, honestly, it really did come off in my hand, so it must have already been broken). You name it and I’ve pretty much done it and all the time, our attendances have remained constant. Constantly poor. It should be noted though that Panthers crowds now usually look fairly decent considering and have held up well, although not sure that will last in 2023 without a no1?

Hopefully it will all filter down and the interest and resistance will grow now that the cat finally seems to be out of the bag. As long as those mentioned keep at it, and others hopefully join the fray, then those communications will naturally follow. Bratter's interview was really only the starting gun that woke everyone up to the reality of the situation so it's important not to get ahead of ourselves.

I'm not too fussed by a further statement to be honest because they've covered it already IMO (open wording highlighted): "In terms of the future, as things stand at present, very sadly this will be our last year. We have a contract with the Showground until the end of October, and at this stage it is highly unlikely that this will be renewed. "We will continue working hard to secure a replacement for Nicki and fighting for the continuation of speedway in Peterborough, but this is the truth of how things stand today." More detail would be nice but not at the expense of showing our hand and then disappointing in the final outcome.