mummycaz Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 (edited) seems your right in a manner of speaking ...... its now appears that the feud between kings lynn and mildenhall regarding STOCK CARS issues .. has now spilled over into the national league AGM today with Kings Lynn being the voice and lead opposition against mildenhall running in SPEEDWAY ! If this is true then surely it proves what people are saying on here about the BSPA. Its not being run as a regulating body but as a chance to "get back" at other clubs. How does that work? It seems to me that big changes are needed in British Speedway before we lose it all together. "Cutting off your nose to spite your face!" springs to mind and at this rate its going to be very short term gains for some clubs, or perhaps thats what it is about?? Although I dont suppose any Mildenhall Fan would be surprised at that opposition being made! Edited January 26, 2011 by mummycaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montie Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 seems your right in a manner of speaking ...... its now appears that the feud between kings lynn and mildenhall regarding STOCK CARS issues .. has now spilled over into the national league AGM today with Kings Lynn being the voice and lead opposition against mildenhall running in SPEEDWAY ! You were there then good well tell us what realy happened Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IW08 Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Really feel for Mildenhall supporters, gutting blow BSPA are just showing their true colours, and that those who said the clubs aren't in for themselves..... that 'theory' has been blown right out of the water. Awful treatment of a club in a time when we should be encouraging as many clubs as possible to stay in business and operate successfully. The time has come for the fans of ALL British Speedway Clubs to unite one and create a petition calling for the BSPA to be disbanded, and for the sport to be overseen by an independent regulator because until that happens (if it ever does), then the governing body it seems are happy to let more clubs go to the wall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scribbler Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Really feel for Mildenhall supporters, gutting blow BSPA are just showing their true colours, and that those who said the clubs aren't in for themselves..... that 'theory' has been blown right out of the water. Awful treatment of a club in a time when we should be encouraging as many clubs as possible to stay in business and operate successfully. The time has come for the fans of ALL British Speedway Clubs to unite one and create a petition calling for the BSPA to be disbanded, and for the sport to be overseen by an independent regulator because until that happens (if it ever does), then the governing body it seems are happy to let more clubs go to the wall. Totally agree... It might also be a good idea if Mildenhall contact Peterborough and Coventry - to add strength to their case and perhaps join with them. Remind me - wasn't it the Chapmans who bought Mildenhall - fleeced it of all the riders and then dumped it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Smith Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 seems your right in a manner of speaking ...... its now appears that the feud between kings lynn and mildenhall regarding STOCK CARS issues .. has now spilled over into the national league AGM today with Kings Lynn being the voice and lead opposition against mildenhall running in SPEEDWAY ! There isn't any stock car issues that I'm aware of. King's Lynn run under Track Star Racing and Mildenhall runs under RDC Promotions if I'm not mistaken. There is no conflict of interests so I'm not sure what you're trying to say at all??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billy Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Those were exactly my thoughts shortly after reading the statement, after I became aware of the decision. If the authorities arent willing to let Steve Ribbons promote, at least for the time being - then the decision seems to have been delivered at the 11th hour - with no time for Dave Coventry, or anyone else, to realistically attempt to put together an alternative in time to enter Mildenhall in the National League for 2011. is it really too late for another potentional promoter to step in and take the club on for 2011? as has been said before two sides to every story and the two people who tried and failed cannot take the blame for this.they did their best and thats all you could expect.the blame for this shambles must lie with the previous promotion who got the club into such a financial mess and i dont know, but you can hardly blame the bspa for being OVERLY cautious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
21st century heathen Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 I've just been informed on an EL thread that the NL is nothing to do with the BSPA... If that were the case, and taking the statement at face value, why would he need to apply to the BSPA for membership and how would it be able to make charges? But maybe they are cautious of giving a Promoters licence to someone who comes on a forum and posts all the details in the open. The statement was only made after the decision had been taken. I think it's about time some of the details of what goes on at BSPA Towers is made public. I think one of those is not to make public statements on forums.Correct me if i am wrong there though...... And as mentioned there are plenty of people directly involved in the sport that do take time out to post on here. There's no reason he should be treated any differently in that regard. My gripe with the BSPA would be its apparent making and breaking of its own rules and regulations depending on to whom, when and where said rules apply. If he was never going to be allowed in then that should have been made clear from the start and not allowed to drag on until now when the fans have been given what turns out to be false hope. It's the fans I feel sorry for because it would seem the BSPA may have known all along there was no chance of Mildenhall being allowed in but the fans, as usual, are treated badly and kept in the dark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedibee Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Would the £5000 league membership and £5000 promoting rights still apply if another promoter were to apply? have stoke paid £5000 league membership? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedibee Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 If you are hoping to join an organisation you have to play by their rules.I think one of those is not to make public statements on forums. play by the rules , let them kick you in the teeth , and then go quietly away and not question why you have been kicked in the teeth, keep the secrets of an organisation that does not want you to be a part of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 However the BSPA should mention the reasons for the rejection of Mildenhall in an official press release along with news from the NL AGM. Hopefully this will be tomorrow. I think we will undoubtedly get something but there's absolutely no way that it will be in enough depth or answer the points that Steve Ribbons and other posters here have raised. Steve has put them in the public domain, so as far as I can see the BSPA have every right and reason to respond in the same way, rebutting his arguments and stating their case in full. They won't do that. If questioned, they will probably refer to confidentiality but there will remain the strong suspicion that their actions simply cannot be justified. I don't think there is a single forum member that would dispute that their decisions are at least partly based upon pure selfishness and whether faces fit. Openness and transparency wherever possible breeds trust, the opposite mistrust. Its little wonder that over 80% of speedway supporters want some form of independent control of the sport. My gripe with the BSPA would be its apparent making and breaking of its own rules and regulations depending on to whom, when and where said rules apply. If he was never going to be allowed in then that should have been made clear from the start and not allowed to drag on until now when the fans have been given what turns out to be false hope. It's the fans I feel sorry for because it would seem the BSPA may have known all along there was no chance of Mildenhall being allowed in but the fans, as usual, are treated badly and kept in the dark. Your first point is my major issue, too. Its about inconsistency, spite and selfishness having a place in decision making when they should be entirely absent. Being clear from the start has been raised by Nikko and Neil and you're all correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 is it really too late for another potentional promoter to step in and take the club on for 2011? as has been said before two sides to every story and the two people who tried and failed cannot take the blame for this.they did their best and thats all you could expect.the blame for this shambles must lie with the previous promotion who got the club into such a financial mess and i dont know, but you can hardly blame the bspa for being OVERLY cautious. I think its fair point to suggest that Mildenhall represent a risk given what has happened in the past and to ask for stronger guarantees from a potential promoter. The thing is you don't do that a week before the AGM and over the phone, you make it absolutely clear as soon as someone gets involved then everyone knows where they stand before they start making actual plans for a takeover and informing everyone that that is likely to happen. Would the £5000 league membership and £5000 promoting rights still apply if another promoter were to apply? have stoke paid £5000 league membership? More to the point, have Leicester ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montie Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Totally agree... It might also be a good idea if Mildenhall contact Peterborough and Coventry - to add strength to their case and perhaps join with them. Remind me - wasn't it the Chapmans who bought Mildenhall - fleeced it of all the riders and then dumped it? I dont believe the Chapmans had anything to with it the decision at all,purely gossip,you could argue that Chapman saved mildenhall that year from yet another mid season closer From what i can gather,the BSPA got there fingers burnt with a fair bit of cash last year,and i would think that they are wary of the same thing happening,and the BSPA`S money belongs to the promotors,so when a club shuts down it cost them all a few quid,and the way things are at the momment,there is very few who cant afford that Instead of typing gossip on here maybe you should look at the bigger picture, Sad thing is the fantastic Tigers supporters havnt got a team to watch this year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rami Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 I dont believe the Chapmans had anything to with it the decision at all,purely gossip,you could argue that Chapman saved mildenhall that year from yet another mid season closer From what i can gather,the BSPA got there fingers burnt with a fair bit of cash last year,and i would think that they are wary of the same thing happening,and the BSPA`S money belongs to the promotors,so when a club shuts down it cost them all a few quid,and the way things are at the momment,there is very few who cant afford that Instead of typing gossip on here maybe you should look at the bigger picture, Sad thing is the fantastic Tigers supporters havnt got a team to watch this year You can look at as many bigger pictures as you like but the way this has been done is a disgrace, Whatever decisions the bspa made im pretty sure they were not made at 9 am yesterday, why let people from mildenhall turn up to a meeting and then be told sorry you cant come in. If restrictions were put in place then anybody involved with trying to save mildenhall should have been made aware of them so that they knew what they were dealing with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billy Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 I dont believe the Chapmans had anything to with it the decision at all,purely gossip,you could argue that Chapman saved mildenhall that year from yet another mid season closer From what i can gather,the BSPA got there fingers burnt with a fair bit of cash last year,and i would think that they are wary of the same thing happening,and the BSPA`S money belongs to the promotors,so when a club shuts down it cost them all a few quid,and the way things are at the momment,there is very few who cant afford that Instead of typing gossip on here maybe you should look at the bigger picture, Sad thing is the fantastic Tigers supporters havnt got a team to watch this year maybe the bspa are somehow albeit a bit deviously trying to recoup their financial losses from last year? im not sure but i think there may be impending legal action in the pipeline to recover losses connected with the previous promotion. have to say though they are out of order for not forewarning the latest promotion earlier. has the door slammed shut for good on the fen tigers or is there a way out of this mess? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonB Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Well to say I am gutted is an understatement. For the record I dont know Mr Ribbons or the financial position he would have been in as chairman of Mildenhall Speedway, I have met Kevin Jolly once (well about running the club anyway) and he seemed incredibly enthusiastic and at the same time realistic about what he would be taking on. SMS would have fully supported the new promotion in anyway it could as our aim is clearly to ensure as far as possible the financial stability of the club. We already have raised just under £1,500 and we had plans to bring in much more than that each year directly into the club, not big money for sure but significant enough at the NL level of the sport. This close season the BSPA have managed to close three clubs, from the outside that hardly seems the actions of a body that is actively seeking to promote the sport. Particularly at junior level where opportunities for british youngsters are few and far between. Well seven more riders are out of the sport now to add to the fourteen places at Coventry and Peterborough. I think the BSPA should be clear about this decision making, have Mildenhall been picked on due to past history (and I include my time at the club in that) and been asked to pay newly made up charges just to put off the new promotion, or indeed any prospective promotions? To have to find £10,000 in addition to the costs in promoting a club that has to re-establish itself to its past supporters is in my mind excessive. Particularly when you consider the time table that seems to have been imposed by the BSPA. Why did they not make all of these decisions early enough so that either funds could be sought or alternative promotions put in place. I can fully understand the desire to ensure that Mildehall did not fold again mid-season, it has done twice now, but these conditions could have made clear much much earlier if they had truly wanted to help support the re-opening of a long running track. SMS will contine its efforts and fund raising and hopefully we can get involved in the future of the sport at Mildenhall but it is going to be tough to keep up the levels of effort and enthusiam needed when the sport kicks you in the teeth so often. Speedway has made me many friends and was also the reason I met my wife and I dont want to lose that great feeling of being with friends watching the sport we all love. This coming season however is going to be difficult when the team I support is closed as is the team that used to run 200 yards from my house. It is going to be extremely difficult to re-open speedway at Mildenhall now unless the BSPA changes its demands and actually seeks to help new promotions rather than making life as difficult as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frostylion Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 You can look at as many bigger pictures as you like but the way this has been done is a disgrace, Whatever decisions the bspa made im pretty sure they were not made at 9 am yesterday, why let people from mildenhall turn up to a meeting and then be told sorry you cant come in. If restrictions were put in place then anybody involved with trying to save mildenhall should have been made aware of them so that they knew what they were dealing with. Hang on a minute if you look at the press release from ribbons he says that he knew the conditions before yesterday yet he says he didnt agree with them so he knew before kevin set off that he wasnt going to accept the terms then comes on here bleating and looking for sympathy and you lot buy it get real Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deano Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 Sad news indeed. My gut feeling is perhaps Mr Ribbons's previous attempts at promoting speedway have gone against him. I'm a firm believer in people being given a second chance, perhaps this is the reason for the BSPA demands and late decision? Perhaps mildenhall is considered a higher risk than other clubs... maybe if there were more investors the BSPA would have looked at it differently? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mummycaz Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 I dont believe the Chapmans had anything to with it the decision at all,purely gossip,you could argue that Chapman saved mildenhall that year from yet another mid season closer Thats one way of looking at it I suppose ... but I wouldnt put that one to the vote with the majority of Mildenhall Supporters Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilK Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 (edited) As a Mildenhall supporter since 1976 it is not that easy to look at this latest setback objectively. However I can to some extent see the concerns of the BSPA here. It has to be said that the last five years of our existence have been somewhat difficult and I'm sure the very sudden closure last season did nothing to endear Mildenhall with the powers that be!!. Personally rather than throwing stones on this forum surely what Mildenhall supporters and the stadium owner need to know quickly is whether this is a personal issue between them and Mr Ribbons or with Mildenhall running under any promoter. The suggestion from Mr Ribbons that kevin Jolly would be issued a licence suggests it is the former. Therefore with the season not needing to commence for around 3 months a more suitable partner (in BSPA eyes)for Kevin needs to be sought, maybe Dave Coventry in the interim? After all it is the clubs sustainability that is all important here another blank season could just about finish the club, and we shouldn't lose sight of that. Edited January 26, 2011 by PhilK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billy Posted January 26, 2011 Report Share Posted January 26, 2011 As a Mildenhall supporter since 1976 it is not that easy to look at this latest setback objectively. However I can to some extent see the concerns of the BSPA here. It has to be said that the last five years of our existence have been somewhat difficult and I'm sure the very sudde n closure last season did nothing to endear Mildenhall with the powers that be!!. Personally rather than throwing stones on this forum surely what Mildenhall supporters and the stadium owner need to know quickly is whether this is a personal issue between them and Mr Ribbons or with Mildenhall running under any promoter. The suggestion from Mr Ribbons that kevin Jolly would be issued a licence suggests it is the former. Therefore with the season not needing to commence for around 3 months a more suitable partner (in BSPA eyes)for Kevin needs to be sought, maybe Dave Coventry in the interim? After all it is the clubs sustainability that is all important here another blank season could just about finish the club, and we shouldn't lose sight of that. could this be the answer? " another more suitable partener" for kevin jolly. sounds good to me and maybe just the solution needed to save the club Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts