Aries

Has to be more than the numbers because he’s on an average that fits in nicely. Would make no sense to keep Ellis and not retain Rew

Might not have any choice. Disappointed if he’s off though because he’s on an average that’s only going north. Would strengthen a rival unfortunately.

Wondered why Louis publicly got a bit defensive on Rew towards the end of the season with his “he’s our rider” quip. Thought it was a strange comment to come out with at the time but it now makes sense. Obviously things going on behind the scenes.

He has a massive chip on his shoulder when it comes to Ipswich for some unknown reason but try not to bite. He’s also very wrong. Unlike his club that dumps young British riders (Connor Mountain) in a desperate attempt for silverware, Ipswich are well known for being loyal and standing by their riders even at the expense of success on track. There isn’t another club that would have stood by Erik Riss all season long whilst suffering with long term illness which almost certainly contributed to losing the title in 2023.

So it’s almost certainly this.. Doyle Rew King or Ellis Brennan Emil Dan Thompson Jenkins Either King or Ellis fits under 40 due to Dan’s 25% reduction. Really isn’t much between them so either or for me, not really fussed. It’s a title winning team either way.

I’m not sure this is the case. Arch works for him or close family so he’ll know. It’s true Tru picked up the sponsorship for a discount from Sackers when they stopped sponsorship.

We’ve heard this about Flint for the last how many years? He’s simply not progressing at all.

Going purely off Jenkins’ comments on the Ipswich site, I’d say they almost certainly do have a say.

Rob Lyon was openly telling supporters he wanted Jenkins at rising star next year. The Lynn fans on here have said as much. There is no way on earth Lynn and Birmingham come to that, have seen Jenkins on the list and gone “nah, we’ll go for these instead” LOL.

Hope your team is spot on, I just wonder whether they’ll go for exactly the 7 as this year to prove a point? Kind of, this is what would have happened if we’d stayed fit. Still not sure on Brennan, especially now Birmingham have confirmed their intention to run.

Why?

And Ipswich were still clear at the top despite missing Doyle since May. It was the Emil absence which then saw the club win only one (Leicester H in play offs) of the last 10 meeting in League and Cup. The club struggled for guests and used rider replacement in a lot of those meetings also. The teams being put out were way under strength quite frankly. Whether you want to admit it or not, Ipswich were the best team in the league this year and would have finished top, not Sheffield. I’m sorry but that’s undeniable. Is it Sheffields fault? Of course not. You simply took advantage of another club’s misfortune and that’s fair game. We scraped by without one heatleaders, as you did with Woffinden, but losing two killed the season stone dead. As ever though, rather than get all precious about it, you’re completely missing the point of my post unsurprisingly. @szkocjasid Said there was nothing wrong with the strategy of the way you built your team, and used the fact you finished top of the table as evidence that it worked. My point was very simple, that just by glancing at the finished table doesn’t tell the whole story and gives a false sense of achievement because you can’t rely on other clubs losing their whole top end every year. That’s just common sense. If you stick with the same reserve pairing next year you’ll win nothing. It isn’t good enough.

It will ultimately be the riders that decide where they go. Using Brennan as an example, if he contacted Ipswich and asked them for a place, should Ipswich refuse to entertain him because it isn’t fair on Birmingham? I think Birmingham have a problem here. Firstly they’ve publicly declared money issues and have only just cobbled together the finance to state their intentions to run, so what message does that send out to riders who will have options? There’ll be riders they can sign because nobody else will want them with all due respect, but you have to ask the question what can Birmingham afford to pay Brennan or a number 1? They’ll also have concerns about job security. Again, after publicly stating their financial issues, riders may well have concerns about them completing the season. If you’re a rider in demand, do you stay at Birmingham or go for a better pay cheque and job security elsewhere?

There still has to be a question mark on the rising star I’d have thought? On two fronts. One if Jenkins is allowed back on the list after previously coming off it, and two if there’s a picking order others will get there first surely.. Looks like the other 6 are nailed on if it’s 40, if it’s 39 then Ellis back in for Brennan and same team as this year.

Saw that myself earlier. I know the competitive nature of supporters is to not want your rivals to look good and sign strong riders, but there surely can’t be any true fan that doesn’t want him to return. There are few riders in Speedway that have the X factor but he’s one of them. Box office and he’s great for the league.

Because that doesn’t tell the whole story does it? They finished top and won the KOC by taking advantage of another clubs injury woes. Nothing wrong with that before you say, but they wouldn’t have done either if Ipswich were at full strength which papers over the cracks somewhat and makes Sheffield look a tad stronger than they actually were. Ipswich had already beaten Sheffield at their place once, and were on course to do so again until Emil crashed and that was even without Doyle. IMO the Sheffield fans are right to be sceptical about the make up of a similar side. They were vulnerable at reserve and you can’t rely on others getting injuries to their whole top end every year. I personally think a strong top two is essential to be successful, a strong top 3 not so much. I’d be picking two from three of the top end and then get in a stronger number 6.

So the team someone has heard from both Sheffield and Ipswich, puts them both just shy of 40 points. So are we to assume the leak of the points limit dropping to 39 isn’t true?

39.74 with a 3 pointer at 6. Won’t fit under the rumoured 39.00 limit.

What’s their finance got to do with it? Do they not still have to submit their accounts also? What’s in those accounts is irrelevant. You’re making excuses. Poland is a professionally run league, it’s been proved time and time again that isn’t the case here. There’s no excuse for having the conference in mid November. If clubs can’t submit their accounts sooner than that then it sums up the woefully run sport in this country. Birmingham needing time is an issue, but they’ve held conferences before and kept places open for clubs needing more time so that’s not really an excuse either.

I hate doing the Poland comparison thing, but they seem to manage all of that and get their houses in order before we’ve even had our conference! Some Polish teams are completed before our AGM starts.

Looks a good team, but you have to utilise Dan Thompson on a 25% reduction imo. That’s one immediate average jumper right there due to the reduction. Let’s not forget he spent most of this year in the main body of the team so you’d expect him to be one of the stronger number 6’s in the league. Doyle Rew Brennan Ellis Emil Dan RS Thats still the team for me if it remains 40. Barring injury, that’s a title winning team.

Think it’s fair to say he’s the one most Witches fans want to see signed up this winter. If Emil comes back and joins Doyle, he won’t have to worry about riding at 1 or 5 like he did at Birmingham most of this year. A Doyle/Emil/Brennan top three is as potent as it comes.

Well according to every non biased fan actually so no need for the sarky comment. The Ipswich team even without Doyle, was miles clear at the top of the table until Emil crashed out and would no doubt have been favourites. No guarantees obviously and no Ipswich fan has stated they DEFINITELY would have won it, but it was quite clearly the best team in the league it’s as simple as that.

Flint will surely be at Birmingham. They have the right to retain him and I’m not sure why they wouldn’t.

I think we’re deluding ourselves to think King won’t be in the team. He’s the team managers best mate. They upload twitter pics of themselves boozing down the pub, playing golf, darts, and they enjoying travelling to away meetings together. Unless the team manager goes, he’ll insist on working with his mate again. Some of those pics by the way include Louis himself joining them down the boozer! They’re all close.