greyhoundp

Great to see Cradley back, this is the True name of our Club, now lets Ommer Um, great to see Steve in Cradley colours..

Dont be silly Tony, this is Speedway we are talking about, Its guaranteed there will be a scramble at the end of October to get the Play Offs and KO Cup final run, why ? because they are totally unable to forsee any fixture pile ups., all it needs is certain rounds of the KO Cup to be run by a certain date, with the Play Offs its a little more difficult, but still doable, again just bring the cut off date forward. Then for those who want, they can enter the National Trophy to see September & October out, and even hold the League Shield in the same year between Play Off winners and KO Cup winners, that should be a money spinner. The promoters need to realise, Speedway is primarily a summer sport, and we dont enjoy watching Speedwaay on freezing cold late October nights, and also realise its somewhat ridiculous to have a league fixture to complete after the Play Offs have been run. Also there are 20+ weeks to hold meetings between May and the end of September, more than enough for most Teams.

We do on at least a couple of times, each season lol.

I honestly hope you are wrong, bcuz in that scenario everyone would lose, not least Mr Tatum.

Lets take a look a the riders, and the Tracks who have selected them; Belle Vue, Stefan Nielsen, a good choice here, gater and isnt afraid to mix it. Ben Reade, Ben went backwards in 2013, injuries didnt help, will struggle bid time. Birmingham, Paul Starke good team man, primarily a gater, Simon Lambert, if he stays free from injury could prove a good signing. Coventry, In my opinion Jason and James are the strongest PAIR of riders selected, Jason has unlimited ability and potential. Eastbourne, Lewis is a good gater, and once he is dialled in to the Eastbourne Track, he will do okay, Danny will struggle away from home big time. Kings Lynn, The 2 Lewis,s are both going to more than hold there own at home, with Kerr being a very good prospect, Rose did very well in his first full NL season, despite injuries. Lakeside, In Adam Ellis, they have an outstanding prospect, good gater, lovely style, and very fast when out in front, Ben Knows his way round lakeside. Leicester, Hmmm i dont know the Track, but if as many say, its a gaters paradise, then both Tom and Max are NOT renowned for there gating. Poole, Kyle is a very good if not THE best reserve signing, Lee of 2013 will struggle, Lee of 2011 will do well. Swindon, Steve Worall could emulate his twin, if he regains his confidence, Matty is a great young prospect. Wolves, Ash knows Monmore Green very well, may just struggle away from there, JJ when he gates he is fast, may struggle on the tracks that have a home bias.

I certainly dont think he is blameless, however i do believe its time the leaseholder considers withdrawing from Promoting, of which he certainly is a proven failure, and concentrates on being a Landlord for The Stadium, and taking a regular rental income, for which he has more talent, and then allowing someone who has had considerable success as a Promoter in the past, to stand or fall by his own decisions. This could well be a win,win, win situation for Mr Tatum, Stoke Speedway, and supporters of Stoke Speedway.

Without looking through the previous 30+ pages on this Topic, where is The current Under 21 Champion ? namely Robert Branford, is he on the draft list, and if not why not? he is British Under 21 Champion and surely HAS to be included.

I know this is Stoke 2014, and as such Malcolm is part of that, Malcolms record in the NL prior to joining Stoke was good, in his 1st season in the NL with Stoke they were for the most part of the season challenging for Honours, since then things have resumed in a downward trend, culminating in them finishing bottom of the NL in 2013, and not completing there fixtures. Stoke speedway needs a shot in the arm, begining with Messrs Tatum withdrawing from the Speedway side of the Stadium, and Malcolm Vasey taking overall control of the Speedway operation. Things may then begin to look up, because though Malcolm appears too be manager and joint promoter, i do believe he is trying to work under constraints imposed by others, for instance Liam Carr was apparently not re signed due to the promotion allegedly not wanting to pay his travel costs, but Buxton can, what does that say about Stoke Speedway ?. I do worry about the future for Stoke Speedway while the current incumbants continue to have a major say in how it is run, On behalf of many Stoke fans, i ask Mr Tatum to seriously consider his position at Stoke Speedway, and consider leasing the Speedway side of things to either Malcolm Vasey or other persons, who would bring a more positive outlook to the promotion of the Sport, Im sure there are people out there who would be willing to come on board.b Stoke is a fine little Stadium which has been allowed to be dragged down to the point of almost NO return. From the financial side of things, surely its better that Mr Tatum and Co take a regular rent from the Speedway, rather than continue to struggle as THE promoter, and facing loses year in year out, and becoming something of a butt for peoples jokes, I dont doubt that Mr Tatum has the interests of Stoke Speedway at heart, and wants to see them winning, however it is apparent to almost every Speedway supporter in general, and Stoke fans in particular, that he does not have there confidence to carry out that role, and has been pretty poor in recent seasons, due mainly to decisions he has taken, and supporters have shown there displeasure by staying away, that CANT continue.

Not bad RB1, but would prefer Michael Neale to Gareth Isherwood, i was impressed with him, when he guested against us last season, there looks to be seven improvers then.

Nowt new yet, except Will P, has said he would not be unhappy If Tom Perry was back riding for us in 2014, and Nathan Greaves, and Max Clegg, so you can go from there. By the way, i hope by some miracle, we can still see The IOW in the NL for 2014. If you were to have an air fence meeting, surely this would go a long way to raising funds ??, this combined with the £9,000+ that you have already raised would surely see you race again in 2014, normally where there is a will there is a way, do the IOW promoters have the will ? Im sure they do..

I thought or am i mistaken this was a Stoke 2014 thread ?.

May i suggest Gustix, that you put yourself forward as a Moderator, you seem to enjoy visiting the various BSF threads, and enjoy directing us lesser mortals to the correct Threads, Im sure you would find the moderators job enthralling.

I feel your own Jack Kingston is a typical 3 point reserve, begins the season on a 3 average, and finishes on a 4+ whilst showing glimpses of things to come, the Ellis and Lamberts are few and far between, Ellis was a beginner who had shown lots of talent in a handful of meetings the previous season, whilst Lambert NEVER was a 3 pointer, perhaps the wayto go, may be to use rolling averages, therby stopping a Team having a rider on a 3 average, who really is way above that for most of the season.

The shortened version of cricket is real money spinner, maybe NOT for the purists, but its what Joe public wants to see, County Cricket produces the Test match players,but very few want to watch it. Speedway has to look at ideas like this, 13 Main Heats for the usual points, 5 Single lap races, and then perhaps we could look at a way of producing Tag racing, ie similar to relay racing, Maybe a stupid idea, but something has to be done to GET excitement back, and crowds through the doors, lets all try to think outside the box. The tried and tested formula, is failing..

At 1.34 per litre, and midweek meetings,it most certainly is.

Jeez, so to watch BV, Park my Car, and have a programme, = £22. Its no wonder they struggle to get crowds, 15 not very good heats of racing by most accounts, now i can understand why people are staying away. That equates to £1.50 per race.

If you are telling me, its £17 to watch EL racing, then its NO wonder crowds are down, i wouldnt, indeed couldnt pay that amount.

I have NO idea whatsoever of rider costs, have a rough idea of stadium hire, between £750 & £1500 per meeting, an Elite league club were paying the higher figure 2 seasons ago for a stadium with good facilities, so based on that, the average would pan out somewhere between the 2 figures. I think a realistic figure to pay a rider (non GP) should be average, and i stress average £750 per meeting, Heat Leaders higher, 2nd strings, then reserves which equals out at £5250, here in the midlands, if you have a £500 per week job, then you are the exception, and i base my £750 on that, which equates to the equal of earning just 39k per year for 52 meetings, the equivelant of 52 weeks per year, bear in mind Heat leaders will earn more. Im not saying riders dont deserve more, but the facts are Speedway cant pay out, what it doesnt have. So with an average expense of £5250 + £1000 Stadia hire = £6250. 1000 @ £12 paying spectators of which 65% are full admission = £7800, and we will say 350 at concession rates of an average £5 = £1750, therefore the total income through the gate would be aprox £9550, this leaves a balance of £3,300, I realise there are other costs involved Track Staff, Turnstiles etc,etc, but Im pretty sure, most Teams could balance this out with income from sponsorship, Plus if they wanted to charge £1 to park a Car, that also would cover those costs, I have done the bare minimum of Admission fees, and rider/stadia costs. In my work, there is a rate of pay, i either accept that or i find another job, Speedway is NO different, if riders get off there arses, Im sure there are sponsorship deals out there, which would make Speedway more attractive financially. So in answer to your question New Science, £12 pounds per meeting would be realistic, and Play Offs £15 max, and NO NL meeting should be above £10 admission, the best supported club in the NL charge £10, Kent are higher, i dont know why not justified, Cearnsport own the Stadium, I think Mildenhall are higher, again its hard to justify, on NL pay rates, which would total significantly less than £2000 per meeting. I await the flack for actually putting in figures, which may or may not be pie in the sky, but to my way of thinking, Speedway in GB has to cut its cloth, to suit the figures through the gate.

Good luck tonight.

The fact remains, how many clubs can afford to run, on the present structure, without SKY money ? Swindon, Birmingham lost money, probably most others also, rider (machinery)costs and transport costs are a big chunk of that expenditure, the north south split is an obvious cost cutting for Teams, Riders, and fans alike. Chris Van Stratten mentioned it, so it must be in promoters minds. For Teams who dont want the Proffesional structure there remains the NL.

There is an obvious North/South Split, the problem arises as to where the midlands split comes, the obvious scenario would be an East/West midlands split, either to go North or South, maybe alternating year on year, Oh and you missed out Dudley, CVS mentioned a North/South option at a forum less than 12 months ago.

The vast majority of Speedway fans prefer to support a Team, ie where did the majority of Heathens fans go during our sabbatical ?, they stayed at home apart from the odd meeting. Yes it needs a squad system, Yes its time Speedway lived within its means ie PL Teams have to, so why not, so called Elite Teams. Definately a North & South, with a Grand Play Off Final at seasons end, but please, please lets see a reduction in admission costs, to reflect the standard of riders that we watch.Handicap racing should be confined to the 2nd half of meetings, or make it compulsory to have Development Teams in the 2nd half.

Just like to add my thanks, to all the updaters, texters, you do an absolutely fantastic job, and it is very much appreciated, and i know for one Radio WM use your site reguarly.

Lets be honest Nikko, up until recently, you were probably as much aware as anyone until recently, of most of the goings on down at Kent Kings. So i for one, read with great interest what you have to write, and its apparent to all, that The promotion at Kent, do not want to utilise social media, whereas you did, and obviously your position became untenable.

Following on from my earlier comment, i in NO way intend to criticise any rider, official or member of Track Staff, this was a meeting that needed to be run, under the current weather conditions which present itself on the day/night. However, what i will say is this The BSPA of which the NL are members, need to realise this is s Summer Sport, and the KO Cup needs to be completed by The end of JULY, leaving the remainder of the season for League meetings, for years now the KO Cup has been squeezed in at the end of the season,and its getting devalued by this, indeed the Elite League had NO KO Cup this year. Thanks to everyone for there sterling efforts to get the meetings completed, but please, please get the Cup completed by end of July,and put at an end, the devaluation of what should be a premier competition.