Steve0

Let's hope he takes after Chris rather than James then!

Just hope Swindon make the play-offs then - they might even win a trophy

Is that the first zero points for KL this season?

Good result for Swindon - all 3 points against the 2014 EL Champions - cushty!

By the way, I supported Glasgow in their various homes over the years before moving south some years ago - always have a soft spot for Glasgow

People with glass houses shouldn't throw stones! The PL isn't much different - didn't your club need a bail out a few years ago and what a shocking team you have this year!

Of course both are good enough - just ignore our resident troll.

Overall a dull meeting with a bumpy and dusty track. With regards to the ref's decisions, I thought they were ok - on another night or another ref they could have gone the other way though. Prior to the meeting I'm sure Poole would have been happy with 2 points

Looks like the Bees had a lucky escape on Thursday - Batch and Killer were on fire in Copenhagen

If I wanted to see NL riders I would go along to a NL match. I have absolutely no interest in seeing NL riders riding in in the NL and even less interest in seeing them in the EL. That's my opinion - a couple of times you have mentioned that I am looking to see top quality riders - I haven't said that - what I have said is that I have no interest in seeing NL riders!

You can't have a fair draft system if you keep riders back - so yes - rigged! (whatever the justification is)

I think we will need to agree to disagree on this one because we seem to live on different planets. To answer some of your points: 1. I didn't mention anything about competing with other speedway nations. What I mentioned was the dilution of the product and value for money. Where does it all end - 7 NL riders per team in the EL because that is all they can afford? That is where they are heading unless they address the value for money issue. I think supporters realise this and that is why they are voting with their feet and staying away! 2. I agree the biggest issue is finance but they should be looking at ways of reducing costs to riders and the other costs will have to follow suit - not expect their customers to pay through the nose for an inferior product. 3. Regarding quality of entertainment - so you enjoy watching Team Lewis beating most of the opposition - some of which are half a lap behind? Of course you do because you have two strong reserves - the bigger picture is that it is an unfair system that was "rigged" from the outset (and I'm not getting at KL or any other team - who all played within the rules). How can that be better entertainment? 4. I don't think I was actually moaning about the number of meetings with guests and RR - I was merely supporting my view that this adds to the less value for money. However, when you say that we have no choice - you might not, but I certainly do - if I don't like it, I won't settle for less. It is that attitude of the diehard fans (who are dwindling in numbers) that any speedway is better than none that encourages speedway promoters to continue to dilute the product and at some point you just have to say "enough is enough" and the FTR has done that for me. I have been attending speedway for well on 30+ years but for all the reasons I previously listed (which I won't list again for fear of being accused of moaning!) I have found other ways to keep me busy on a Thursday night which is good value for money!

You are entitled to your opinion but with respect, it is fans like yourself that the BSPA want to keep. How can you say that the product has not been diluted with FTR riders (apart from the fact that you probably have the best reserve pairing in the league). In the real world (where we do look past the end of our noses), the product is not Elite - it has been diluted year on year even past the 3 year period they said they needed, the entertainment is poor value for money , there is no continuity of meetings and there is hardly a meeting now without guests and RR - and so many meetings with many guests. On top of that teams now have 2 riders, who apart from a small number have definitely diluted the product to an all time low - and all for the same price! As a paying customer - that is unacceptable. That is my view and for each of our viewpoints there are people that will agree and those that will disagree. Whichever camp you are in the fact is the fan base is reducing! If speedway dies (where it is certainly heading) then the problem lies squarely with the promoters and not the fans who choose to exercise their right to spend their money how they want to. Wake up and smell the coffee - if the fan base keeps shrinking there will be no teams to support so this is a real problem that needs dealing with!M

It's Thursday, Speedway is scheduled and its raining - you couldn't make it up!

Nobody said they wanted the big boys back (although that would be nice). What we should have is value for money, regular racing, teams without guests and RR, affordable prices, ENTERTAINMENT. Sadly I don't think the BSPA have the solution to dwindling crowds as their latest ideas haven't exactly improved the value for money need and is nothing but more cost cutting!

Ah! But the FTR is the way ahead - it will have us all flocking back in droves.

They already have a cheap team!

I have to agree with you and sadly I don't think Birmingham will be alone. Crowds are generally down across the league (apart from a few it seems). The promoters need to realise that they need to offer value for money to attract fans and can no longer rely on the diehard "will turn up whatever cr@p is on offer". I do hope that Birmingham can be saved as its never good to hear of a club close.

Would much rather watch Life of Tai and the SGPs than the rubbish that is served up as EL speedway - take last night's Leicester meeting as an example of what's wrong at the elite level!

I think you'll find they are both heat leaders Tonight Swindon had 1 heat leader and Leicester had 3 You obviously have a downer on Swindon - if you read back your posts that I started replying to!

If it was a full Swindon team - but it wasn't! And a win is a win!

If anyone believes in karma - it happened tonight!

Tell you what - put me on ignore (as you said you would) and do just that - ignore me! :rolleyes:

I didn't ask you - so butt out!

Are you for real? Swindon are also without their top 2 - so that sort of evens it out!