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Glasgow Promotion - You're Biting The Hand That Feeds You!


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Folks. I am astonished that nobody has picked up on the significance of this decision not to hold the last meeting.

 

Remember this meeting, as well as a farewell to the great JG, was also to raise funds for the air fence which MUST BE IN PLACE by the start of the next season. Now if the promotion have already lost £50 K from this season, are we really to assume that they are now going to cough up the needful for the new fence out of their own pockets ? £25 k I believe.

 

I am afraid for me at any rate, the alarm bells are ringing loud and clear. I acknowledge there will be fundraising throughout the close season but what guarantees they will hit the target? Remember, the owners HAVE to promise to have that fence in place at the beginning of the season, or they will NOT GET A LICENCE to race. Unless I am very much mistaken.

 

That brings us back to the initial question. Are they, the owners, willing to cover the cost from their own resources ? We are hearing precious little on that front. It is to my mind, highly unlikely, given the tone of the announcement on the official website. The begging bowl is definitely being rattled already. But, given the number of blank weeks we've had over the course of the season, several opportunities have already been missed to raise funds, and now we won't even get the one meeting dedicated specifically to doing just that, raising air fence funds. Cancelled.

 

I hate to say this, and I hope to goodness I am so wrong and will happily eat humble pie if so, but I think we're going down. I think they're looking for a way out, or a new buyer. Otherwise....... We need to hear what the intentions are from the owners. Are they wanting out ? Can they find the cash, not just to start next season WITH an air fence, but also have enough to get through the year ? Just where do we, the fans, stand before we cough up our own hard earned cash towards the fund ? Right now there's too many questions and precious few answers.

Edited by catseyes
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Folks. I am astonished that nobody has picked up on the significance of this decision not to hold the last meeting.

 

Remember this meeting, as well as a farewell to the great JG, was also to raise funds for the air fence which MUST BE IN PLACE by the start of the next season. Now if the promotion have already lost £50 K from this season, are we really to assume that they are now going to cough up the needful for the new fence out of their own pockets ? £25 k I believe.

 

I am afraid for me at any rate, the alarm bells are ringing loud and clear. I acknowledge there will be fundraising throughout the close season but what guarantees they will hit the target? Remember, the owners HAVE to promise to have that fence in place at the beginning of the season, or they will NOT GET A LICENCE to race. Unless I am very much mistaken.

 

That brings us back to the initial question. Are they, the owners, willing to cover the cost from their own resources ? We are hearing precious little on that front. It is to my mind, highly unlikely, given the tone of the announcement on the official website. The begging bowl is definitely being rattled already. But, given the number of blank weeks we've had over the course of the season, several opportunities have already been missed to raise funds, and now we won't even get the one meeting dedicated specifically to doing just that, raising air fence funds. Cancelled.

 

I hate to say this, and I hope to goodness I am so wrong and will happily eat humble pie if so, but I think we're going down. I think they're looking for a way out, or a new buyer. Otherwise....... We need to hear what the intentions are from the owners. Are they wanting out ? Can they find the cash, not just to start next season WITH an air fence, but also have enough to get through the year ? Just where do we, the fans, stand before we cough up our own hard earned cash towards the fund ? Right now there's too many questions and precious few answers.

 

Good point catseyes, after all the owners did say this in their Red Alert of 11th October:

 

The good news is if we can fund a soft fence and get in the necessary extra sponsorship then we can successfully run speedway in Glasgow on crowds of around 650 people.

 

So where do we stand now?

Edited by george.m
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I feel the owners will not, cannot, continue if they have the same directors in place. Why should they -- the directors have already "spent" fifty grand they didn't have, what would happen in 2014?

 

Thus, (1) the owners will pass control of the club to new investors, who may or may not continue to employ the current board, or (2) the owners will call an EGM or whatever, replace the directors and continue next year with new people in charge of the day-to-day operation, or (3) it's all dead in the water.

Edited by Boobs
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It will be an absolute disgrace if James Grieves does not get his Farewell Meeting. :sad: :sad:

 

Could it be held at another Track perhaps?

 

It's clearly very awkward if what's been billed by Glasgow along the lines of a joint Grievesy Farewell & Fence Fundraiser isn't now going to take place ... but I'd reckon any disgrace should land only on the Glasgow promotion.

 

As far as I'm aware, it's only ever been Glasgow's local decision to treat that track's final action of 2013 as some degree of farewell meeting for James Grieves because the BSPA would've been very unlikely to officlally sanction such a farewell.

 

That's because Grievesy has already had an officlal 20-year-testimonial (wasn't that held at Glasgow in October 2010 ?) as well as an official 10-year-testimonial earlier in his career.

 

BSPA-sanctioned Farewell Meetings normally occur only for a rider whose distinguished career is ended by injury within sight of reaching the 20-year mark ... Jason Lyons is an obvious recent example after his serious crash in 2011 was followed by an official Farewell Meeting in 2012 on the Thursday night before the British Grand Prix.

 

It's just desperately unfortunate that Glasgow's current problems have cut across any plans for rounding-off the career of someone like James Grieves who's given remarkable service to speedway (including some invaluable and sensible help behind-the-scenes as well as his performances on the track).

Edited by arthur cross
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"......It will be an absolute disgrace if James Grieves does not get his Farewell Meeting. "

 

The meeting referred to was meant to be first and foremost a fundraiser for an air fence. The promotion decided, I believe at the last minute, to also hail the great JG's achievements at the same time. I am sure James would be the first to admit he's had a fair number of 'farewells' to and from his fans, all richly deserved.

 

The only disgrace here is the way the owners have gone about their business to round off this year. No Ashfield Classic. No Heathersfield Helmet and now no final meeting to raise fence funds. There's three meetings, at least, where I am sure a fair bit of dosh could have been raised. Quite apart from depriving us fans of our speedway.

 

May I also remind everyone? 2013 League. Matches raced 24. Points won 9. That's just plain embarrassing. My point ? Blunt I know, but I don't believe in beating about the bush.

 

Are they up to it ?

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The reason given for the cancelation of Sunday's meeting was that 5 of the riders booked were taking part in the PL play off final . Presumably both Edinburgh and Somerset wouldn't be too keen on the likes of Cook , Morris and Grajczonek taking part in a meaningless fixture between the two legs of the final

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"......It will be an absolute disgrace if James Grieves does not get his Farewell Meeting. "

 

The meeting referred to was meant to be first and foremost a fundraiser for an air fence. The promotion decided, I believe at the last minute, to also hail the great JG's achievements at the same time. I am sure James would be the first to admit he's had a fair number of 'farewells' to and from his fans, all richly deserved.

 

The only disgrace here is the way the owners have gone about their business to round off this year. No Ashfield Classic. No Heathersfield Helmet and now no final meeting to raise fence funds. There's three meetings, at least, where I am sure a fair bit of dosh could have been raised. Quite apart from depriving us fans of our speedway.

 

May I also remind everyone? 2013 League. Matches raced 24. Points won 9. That's just plain embarrassing. My point ? Blunt I know, but I don't believe in beating about the bush.

 

Are they up to it ?

I think the directors have failed in their remit. Advertising and "promoting" this final meeting, only to then pull the plug with a somewhat feeble excuse of certain riders being required elsewhere seems about par for their course.

 

Owners must feel it a last straw.

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".....I think the directors have failed in their remit. Advertising and "promoting" this final meeting, only to then pull the plug with a somewhat feeble excuse of certain riders being required elsewhere seems about par for their course. " Crescent Girl.

 

Amazingly yesterday's ( Saturday's )Scottish Sun and Daily Record had today's ( Sunday ) meeting, the Fence Fund, Glasgow Tigers Select v Rest of the World Select, still advertised as being on.

 

Now that is just plain wrong. It shows a total inability of the owners to keep the newspapers up to date with what's going on, AND the paying public who aren't familiar with what is going on in the background, with the runnings of this club.

 

Two points from that. The papers won't like being left out of the loop and made to look stupid, plus any poor sod who turned up to watch that match, only to find nobody there, will be very reluctant to ever come back again. A shambles all round.

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".....I think the directors have failed in their remit. Advertising and "promoting" this final meeting, only to then pull the plug with a somewhat feeble excuse of certain riders being required elsewhere seems about par for their course. " Crescent Girl.

 

Amazingly yesterday's ( Saturday's )Scottish Sun and Daily Record had today's ( Sunday ) meeting, the Fence Fund, Glasgow Tigers Select v Rest of the World Select, still advertised as being on.

 

Now that is just plain wrong. It shows a total inability of the owners to keep the newspapers up to date with what's going on, AND the paying public who aren't familiar with what is going on in the background, with the runnings of this club.

 

Two points from that. The papers won't like being left out of the loop and made to look stupid, plus any poor sod who turned up to watch that match, only to find nobody there, will be very reluctant to ever come back again. A shambles all round.

 

The promotion/owners seem to have gone into shut down mode.

They want sponsorship increased in 2014 and punters to do their bit.

Aye, they're doing a great job in encouraging both.

Edited by george.m
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