Humphrey Appleby Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Oxford fans voted with their feet when Horton put the team together and that's why Horton pulled out I don't think publicly winding-up the fans particularly helped, and certainly burning bridges with the stadium ensured the final nail in the coffin of the sport there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hodgy Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 (edited) Rick Frost I'm afraid and will always be remembered as one of the ones who nearly killed British speedway in 2010 So very naive and blinkered. Frost tried to break the monopoly, unfortunately the secret hand shakers were too many and scared to stand up. Those that challenged him have done a fantastic job and EL speedway is thriving, right? Phew! Imagine how bad it might have got if he and Cov had got their way and rid Speedway of the corruptness, created an independent committee and ultimately a level playing field. That would have been disastrous. Edited November 18, 2013 by Hodgy 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topaz325 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Sad for Panthers fans.....hopefully a solution can be found. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
semion Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Successful Businessmen dont become successful by giving Money away. Maybe he looked on it as a bit of a hobby. Could it be hes just had enough and decided to walk away. When Frost took the Panthers on was there a queue of willing investors ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crump99 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Successful Businessmen dont become successful by giving Money away. Maybe he looked on it as a bit of a hobby. Could it be hes just had enough and decided to walk away. When Frost took the Panthers on was there a queue of willing investors ? Depends how much they've got. Frost falls into the shedload category finding something to do with his loose change. Had enough of the BSPA (which is probably reciprocal come to that) would be my guess. Horton told Frost there were no takers but that was probably more a case of nobody was ever going to match Frost's financial clout. Why look elsewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluebee Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 (edited) First of all my very sincere condolences to the Panthers fans. Been to the EOS many times as a Bees supporter and occasionally as a neutral (but always ending up cheering the home side). As a one time Reading supporter when I lived in the area I know what its like to lose a team. You try to be optimistic but it isn't easy and with pressure from housing, local noise objectors, and apathy once a team goes it's hard to see it coming back. Fingers croosed for you that this won't be the case. Although Frost could, and probably should, have handled this better it's not hard to see his frustration. The timing is wrong but I'm sure another visit to the AGM, where the interests of the few outweigh the benefit to the sport as whole, must have finally tipped the balance for Frost. He must have thought, why bother going on losing money when any efforts to have a level playing field are frustrated by the antics of the cynical and selfish. We all know that success on the track is essential to al least maintain support, never mind improving it. If rule bending is blatantly tolerated then why bother going on. The playoff farce and the AGM must have been the two final nails in the coffin. We're still waiting for the independent group that was promised after the Bees and Panthers crisis. It was clear then that certain characters were very willing to lose these clubs rather than have their own influence weakened. Remember, these are the people who have led the sport to this sorry state. This is yet another wake-up call but the sport will conitnue to slumber until the last breath of the Elite league. It's wheezing very badly now. Gos knows how asthmatic it's going to be at the end of next season. Edited November 18, 2013 by bluebee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudflaps Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 How many more Panthers fans would have stop attending meetings at the EOES in 2014 with the format that the BSPA have derived as a business model for the coming season - open to manipulation by Matt Fraud and his bspa cronies. The guys bright I'll give him that - as every loophole get rumbled and blocked he creates newer more complexed methods to beat the system and ensure that Poole reach the Play off finals! All in the best interests of Brtish speedway of course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigcatdiary Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 I don't think publicly winding-up the fans particularly helped, and certainly burning bridges with the stadium ensured the final nail in the coffin of the sport there. I wouldn't disagree with any of that but the fact remains Horton shut Oxford because the fans walked away and I can remember posters on here encouraging people not to attend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
semion Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Depends how much they've got. Frost falls into the shedload category finding something to do with his loose change. Had enough of the BSPA (which is probably reciprocal come to that) would be my guess. Horton told Frost there were no takers but that was probably more a case of nobody was ever going to match Frost's financial clout. Why look elsewhere? It doesnt matter how much wonga a person has, if he has lost interest in his hobby ( for whatever reason) then he is going tow alk away and find something new to throw his money at. Maybe at P'Boro you got an extra few years of Speedway, that maybe you wouldnt have had, if Frost and his money to brun, hadnt come along. Every Cloud has a silver lining, and at least you have decent Speedway to watch either side of you on the A47. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonB Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 I am really gutted by this, Peterborough is probably my favorite race track and I think its a huge loss to the sport. Hopefully something can be done to have at least some speedway there in 2014. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david2905 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 and I was told that even Poole were struggling with crowds by someone who would know. That should be the biggest wake up call of all that change is needed, a well funded team that's there or thereabouts every year with superstars like Ward, Holder and Hancock still cant get the attendances required at time. Not everyone has a Matt Ford and he won't last forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
semion Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 I am really gutted by this, Peterborough is probably my favorite race track and I think its a huge loss to the sport. Hopefully something can be done to have at least some speedway there in 2014. C'mon Simon Throw ya cap into the ring, wont be the first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren2 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 That won't happen this year, can't chuck Leicester out after inviting them, so would have to be an expanded EL in 2015 or an EL club drops out in 12 months/ Did not say chuck Leicester out, said take the Premier League spot they vacated. It doesnt matter how much wonga a person has, if he has lost interest in his hobby ( for whatever reason) then he is going tow alk away and find something new to throw his money at. Maybe at P'Boro you got an extra few years of Speedway, that maybe you wouldnt have had, if Frost and his money to brun, hadnt come along. Every Cloud has a silver lining, and at least you have decent Speedway to watch either side of you on the A47. Spending a lot of extra petrol £ on a team that you do not even support? I cannot answer for all Panthers fans but I do not have money to burn..... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
semion Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 but you havent been adverse to Frosty burning his ? maybe you will become a casual fan, just watching Speedway for the sake of Speedway, rather than following one team come what may. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crump99 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 It doesnt matter how much wonga a person has, if he has lost interest in his hobby ( for whatever reason) then he is going tow alk away and find something new to throw his money at. Maybe at P'Boro you got an extra few years of Speedway, that maybe you wouldnt have had, if Frost and his money to brun, hadnt come along. Every Cloud has a silver lining, and at least you have decent Speedway to watch either side of you on the A47. That's the worry with rich people, it's only a short term fix until they get bored and/or find something else to occupy their time. However, if you don't play the game and make bad decisions then you're only going to speed up the arrival of the end. We did get a few extra years but we might have had many more had Horton picked someone with a better speedway background instead of the biggest wedge. As for the silver lining, I have no desire to grow 6 fingers, and a trip to Saddlebow road is only a unnecessary diversion from a pleasant trip to Hunstanton beach. As for Leicester, I have no desire to put any money in Hemsley's coffers. Having said that, looking at the AGM, it's a great time to be ignoring the Elite League, that title does make you laugh doesn't it My speedway money will go to Darragh MacAnthony at Posh, top bloke 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudflaps Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 My speedway money will go to Darragh MacAnthony at Posh, top bloke I'd have thought your main money priorities would have been on a hot meal, a sun tan and a new pair of specs!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crump99 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 I'd have thought your main money priorities would have been on a hot meal, a sun tan and a new pair of specs!! As you would say, ping, another rib. Your mate Paladin has a go at me for thinking I'm funny, doesn't he read your posts 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
semion Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 (edited) That's the worry with rich people, it's only a short term fix until they get bored and/or find something else to occupy their time. However, if you don't play the game and make bad decisions then you're only going to speed up the arrival of the end. We did get a few extra years but we might have had many more had Horton picked someone with a better speedway background instead of the biggest wedge. As for the silver lining, I have no desire to grow 6 fingers, and a trip to Saddlebow road is only a unnecessary diversion from a pleasant trip to Hunstanton beach. As for Leicester, I have no desire to put any money in Hemsley's coffers. Having said that, looking at the AGM, it's a great time to be ignoring the Elite League, that title does make you laugh doesn't it My speedway money will go to Darragh MacAnthony at Posh, top bloke If Peterboorugh was soaking up money like a sponge, then it needed someone with very deep pockets to come in and give it a lifeline. The Rick Frosts of thsi World must be few and far between in the current climate. I guess you will never know how long a stay of excution you would have got under anyone esle coming in. Nothing wrong with our 6 fingers, web feet, your Brother who could be ya sister etc etc. We aint bad people really, and you do get to watch your Speedway and a track not that different to Alwarton. Just think you could rock up every week and cheer for the away team, after a day out at sunny Hunny. Has to be as good if not better than throwing money at Fergies Yo Yos Edited November 18, 2013 by semion 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humphrey Appleby Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 We did get a few extra years but we might have had many more had Horton picked someone with a better speedway background instead of the biggest wedge. Doubt he had much of a choice. He had to find a buyer quickly, and presumably Frost was only person that could be found with enough cash who was willing to take on the loss-making enterprise. Most people with speedway backgrounds have no money, because successful business people don't tend to want to waste their cash on hopeless cases... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crump99 Posted November 18, 2013 Report Share Posted November 18, 2013 Doubt he had much of a choice. He had to find a buyer quickly, and presumably Frost was only person that could be found with enough cash who was willing to take on the loss-making enterprise. Most people with speedway backgrounds have no money, because successful business people don't tend to want to waste their cash on hopeless cases... Horton made a shedful in 2006 but turned it into a loss maker by the decisions he took, much like Frost, although RF just didn't stop the slide. So you think the decisions made at the AGM will not create more hopeless cases? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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