M.D

And we should catch up again soon..

A fantastic performance over the two legs and Eastbourne are worthy league champions. I have been watching Eastbourne since 1976 so I have seen the rough and the smooth with the club so I know only too well how Mildenhall fans feel and I have the upmost respect for the team and how they have performed this season. If the league format was different they would be deserved winners of the league but its a play off system, its about developing riders and getting a team into form at the right time with a sprinkling of luck over four meetings, thats taking nothing away from either team. As for tonight, shame on Mildenhall..

I don't come on the forum too much any more after being a member for 13 odd years and I have met up with SCB many times at tracks across the UK. I'm totally shocked by this and disgusted, I would never have guessed he was doing anything like what he has done..

Great man, RIP Bob

It won't be stopped, the government has taken away funding for commercial projects such as Schools and hospitals and are focusing on residential new build housing. They will put by a small budget for the refurbishment of schools and hospitals but they are concentrating on residential new build housing, this government switch has been on the cards for well over a year now and this short sighted policy will not change.

Very true, never riding on a level playing field with the budget he has to work on. Its a shame, as I feel there is a good rider in Georgie but without the machinery to complete at this level I fear we will never know how far he could go.

Maybe its a bit of a warning sign..

Good enough but with good finance behind them..

I was with an old friend this morning, we go back 25 odd years, he's not a speedway fan but has been to a good few meetings with me but not for a few years.. An intelligent man, runs his own business, a Yorkshireman living in the south he tells it as he see's it and as a kid went to the Shay a few times. I spoke about a few things and he said "Get an American marketing team in, they know how to promote and put a show on when you get people in to watch, people want more entertainment if they are paying £12 to get in for a night" My reply was its more like £18 now for the evening and his reply was "Thats the first bit they've got wrong" He does have a point.

Yeah, he's very happy these days, got a good life going..

Happy days, AJ, KK and Shieldsy...

Then in my opinion all views should be considered and work with the most popular view point whilst working with what you feel yourself is the right way to move forward..

Exactly, a business may turn over billions or a few hundred a week, the principle is the same, listen, learn what your client wants and keep them happy for repeat business.

I hear what your saying but my point is that in whatever business your in, you have to listen to the paying customer and adapt to keep them happy or you will lose clients..

I have to agree, they have to open up, listen and become transparent with the fan base or their clients so to speak. Its different yes, but I work in new build construction and we have regular meetings with our clients who spend millions with us. They give us feedback on what we are doing right, what they may not be happy with and in return we put our point of view across on how we feel. Both parties working together on the relationship and finding out how each side feel and how things can be improved for the future. Yes very different as Im pointing out how companies may work but the principal is the same. Its about finding out what a client wants and how they fee and then working towards making the experience better for the paying customer, lets not forget, we are the clients of British speedway and they should be listening to our views and working towards firstly keeping us and then improving the experience.

The sport needs an independent body with a blue print plan for the future of the sport, I think most agree on this. The sport needs to go back to basics and concentrate on the product on offer. We can't afford the top lads so get rid of them for a while, spend the money not on wages but track prep, presentation, advertising and putting on an entertaining evening with fast flowing speedway on a well prepared track with a slick show in between races to keep fans entertained. A consistent fixture list is essential with the only non race night is because the team is away that night for a fixture. The governing body needs to at first win back the trust of the existing fan base with transparent honesty and then look towards winning back the lost fans base and then and only then can it start to attract a new fan base. Stabilise the current business, work within the existing financial constraints and then start to build for a future.. They have to consolidate what they have first, work as a team and then build, this I doubt will happen..

I don't blame them. Its been a few years now since the club was bankrolled by the family business, Martin & Connor have to make it work financially as a stand alone business that is dealing with fine margins in the current speedway climate, I doubt they could run many meetings at a loss

Not just the die hard fans that are left, I have not been to a meeting for 5 years now but still follow the sport. They could start by trying to attract people like myself back.

Well said, The sport needs to go back to basics with an independent body with a blue print for the future running it with complete control, I fear we won't find that person and it won't happen..

Indeed and everyone should look at all aspects and take an objective view point, poles apart or not..

I do agree with this and yes I can understand it from all the perspectives you've given. Im an Eastbourne fan for over 40 years and yes I do look at things more from a riders perspective over the years than I used to. Eastbourne did sign up for this league and while I respect your view point with the fans and how they are treated in British speedway, in this instance, I think its part and parcel of running in this league and that we should be developing riders to move/double up no mater what time frame this come in.

Richard, I do understand what your saying but have you looked at things from a riders perspective? Rider 'A' is riding in what is a development league for speedway, not covering his costs in this league but wants to build a future career in the sport. Rider 'A' halfway through a season gets a chance to move up and is far better prepared than his first chance last season. Should he be stopped from progressing by league rules and thus stifling his development and a chance of fulfilling his dream of becoming professional rider because it may or may not effect his semi pro club? Mark.

I understand both points but the NL is a semi professional league and as such a development league for British league speedway however professionally the NL is run these days. If a young English rider is given an opportunity to step up and race in either of the top two leagues then this should be respected by the NL, after all, isn't this the ethos of the NL or have we lost sight of this now?

Only one fixture clash as it stands I believe..

No worries, thought I may have misread it myself..