StevePark Posted September 6, 2014 Report Share Posted September 6, 2014 He is the figure head that's why.... And I assume very instrumental in the goings on and direction of the managment commitee?? Of whom it's obvious some have more say than others.... Least you recognise ' they' are full of self interest. Be interesting to know who decides things like blocking certain team changes with in the rules, granting a facility for one team but denying for another in re arranged matches, deciding for eg Brady Kurtz was a 3 then a 5... When he should have been a 7??.... The Dennis Anderson farce of Poole getting him on a 4 point average ... The list goes on. Harkess pulled stunts like burger gate, so it just goes to show how stupid the sport he is figure head of is really. That, surely, has to be a committee decision. It can't be down to just one person? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arson fire Posted September 6, 2014 Report Share Posted September 6, 2014 (edited) Ah i wondered when it would start. Nothing like bringing Poole and Somerset into the argument..They are factual examples of strange decisions.... See little man syndrome is still rearing it's ugly head with you Btw I didn't mention the teams as a bias I was more on about the strange decisions That, surely, has to be a committee decision. It can't be down to just one person? he is head of the said commitee, a commitee that constantly makes different decisions/ outcomes for the same scenarios.... The buck stops at the top IMO.... But you're right who decides that Lemo gets a facility for being at the World Cup??.... Who decides the same tracks get the same meetings each year etc...how Scunny get a facility for klindt as it was a re arranged fixture, but newcastle didn't for lindgren v Berwick in the re arranged sky match... Be interesting to know really. Edited September 6, 2014 by Arson fire 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trees Posted September 6, 2014 Report Share Posted September 6, 2014 (edited) Surely he is just Chairman of the Committee, it up to them all to come up with the ideas, sounds like my Parish Council. I've always thought that they should risk assess every decision, the trouble is the clever ones amongst them probably stay schtum. Take this transfer/signing deadline and Lynn losing their number one, there is no way that we should be denied the signing of another rider IMO, how stupid is that. Same goes for Poole and the situation they're in. I'm guessing it's been done so no team can change their team for the playoffs but I feel it should have conditions! If they had taken possible scenarios into account then things might be different. At the end of the day it's penalising the fans. Same as not allowing guests of equal quality when a team member is racing for his home country team, again the public are denied! Same as the ftr list, put every young rider on it, to stop the farce that happened at Coventry on Thursday night? Edited September 6, 2014 by Trees Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5 FURROW Posted September 6, 2014 Report Share Posted September 6, 2014 Ok Harkess goes, what then, who takes over that would make that much of an improvement.it would be one selfish clown out to be replaced by another selfish clown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevePark Posted September 6, 2014 Report Share Posted September 6, 2014 (edited) They are factual examples of strange decisions.... See little man syndrome is still rearing it's ugly head with you Btw I didn't mention the teams as a bias I was more on about the strange decisions he is head of the said commitee, a commitee that constantly makes different decisions/ outcomes for the same scenarios.... The buck stops at the top IMO.... But you're right who decides that Lemo gets a facility for being at the World Cup??.... Who decides the same tracks get the same meetings each year etc...how Scunny get a facility for klindt as it was a re arranged fixture, but newcastle didn't for lindgren v Berwick in the re arranged sky match... Be interesting to know really. Rules may have changed from when we had to go with McKinna at Berwick last season, compared to Klindt this year (I don't know, just wondering)? Lemo was technically classed as a rider (I think), as, this year (for the first time) he had to sign to the World Cup and couldn't ride elsewhere whilst still in it, just as all riders had to do (it only effected him as Manager), so he had no choice but to miss a meeting for Redcar (or relinquish the Aussie Team Manager job). I'd also guess that it will be a committee decision where all 'Events' are held, although I don't know how many (if any) tracks, throw their 'hat' into the ring to stage those meetings. If none do (except those that already host the meeting) then that event (e.g PLRC at Sheffield), will be held at that venue. Edited September 6, 2014 by Steve Park Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Science Posted September 6, 2014 Report Share Posted September 6, 2014 (edited) Good Post Dean. You are right - the Sport needs a huge top down overhaul. There are lots of things to love about Speedway but sadly there is a terrible lot wrong with it too. You have listed a number of them in your Post. Speedway will never be as good as it once was for all the reasons you say - but - another couple of reasons may be the loss of the Smell and to an extent the Noise as well. Neither of these things the Sport can do anything about given the Legal situation these days regarding the Environment. It is amazing how many folk that no longer attend Speedway say - I used to love the smell (so did I) and the noise. I reckon that those factors will not have helped the Sport either. Regarding Mr. Harkess - he is probably doing as good a job as he can in the circumstances - ie: the people he has to deal with - as anyone else could do. I see nobody,sadly, at the very top of the Sport who seems capable of taking Speedway by the scruff of the neck and really sorting it out. THAT is what it needs. I am certainly not sure any of the current top people could do any better. Speedway also needs to do something to restore it's credibility as well. Agree,as a youngster the things that hooked me were the noise,the smell and the speed.Now only the speed remains,I wouldn't be hooked now if I had just started watching the sport.Amazing how when the noise was reduced it also took the atmosphere with it, since 2011 the atmosphere has been like a morgue at most tracks,and its not coming back,another reason why the sport is in steep decline. Edited September 6, 2014 by New Science 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted September 6, 2014 Report Share Posted September 6, 2014 (edited) No point blaming any one person for british speedway's current farcical situation.. When you get promoters ringing you up saying 'if I cannot use rider x tonight I will close my track' what can you do?? I remember a couple of years ago one of the management committee said he left the MC due to the flack and pressure he got from fellow promoters basically holding the sport to ransom to get what they wanted.. The other nights farce with Cov trying to use an illegible rider could have had MC approval as it has been documented before that promoters often phone one MC member after another with the same request until they get a 'Yes'.... The sports decline has been inevitable over the past ten years or so due to a complete lack of independent leadership and an absence of a clear vision for the sports future development and growth... That is not the sole fault of the current incumbent head of the bspa.. He has just been incapable of turning round the fcuked oil tanker of a sport that is british speedway... As many before him have also abysmally failed to do... Edited September 6, 2014 by mikebv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R87 Posted September 6, 2014 Report Share Posted September 6, 2014 I remember (not long after he took the job) that he rubbished the notion of an independent body running British Speedway as "speedway works here very well". The fact that as the chairman of the BSPA, he was in office during the farcical winter in 2010/2011 would have seen him out of a job in most other sports. Lets not forget also that he promotes a club which had to go cap in hand and plead poverty to their own supporters - these two sagas hardly make him the most credible of chairman. Sadly, with the way the sport is current (mis)managed here, moving him on and replacing him with another current promoter will be like shuffling the deckchairs on the Titanic. I think there are a lot of forward-thinking promoters within British Speedway (Rob Godfrey at Scunthorpe has always impressed me), but with too many older promoters set in their ways and determined to keep things as they are just because it "suits them", then I don't see speedway moving forward - I hope I'm proved wrong, but I don't see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheReturn Posted September 6, 2014 Report Share Posted September 6, 2014 The Chair does not make the rules of the sport (unless he has a casting vote), he is merely chair of the committee, the committee make the rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanner47 Posted September 6, 2014 Report Share Posted September 6, 2014 Being the Chairman of a self-interest organisation can't be easy. Even when a promoter does comes up with a sensible idea, it doesn't suit someone else so it never happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Panda Posted September 6, 2014 Report Share Posted September 6, 2014 (edited) Aye give the job to Matt Ford ............................................then sit back and enjoy the fireworks Yeah right............at least he gets things done........... Speedway needs a complete overhaul.................how are we supposed to compete at a competitive level not just at league level but internationally if the sport is living in the dark ages.............it needs someone to come in and inject a breath of fresh air into it........... As someone who has followed the sport for 38 years it depresses me to see the state it is in now...........very little in reality to encourage youngsters to take up the sport........promoters who sit on their backsides expecting the world to come to them when they should be out there (I know some do this) promoting the sport..........unbiased refereeing and reporting would help as well..........we need to get bums on seats...........we need to get the powers that be to listen to what we want.........maybe even start a national supporters association.......... We need to make changes............at EL level anyway bring in the squad system that works so well in Poland and Sweden.............completely rewrite the rule book if they have to but they need to do something before we have no tracks left............an independent body to run it may be.........or at least somehow get the BSPA to listen to us the fans and ask what we want to see........... I truly fear for the sports future in this country if it is allowed to continue as it is now........... RP Edited September 6, 2014 by Red Panda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryW Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 Harkess pulled stunts like burger gate, so it just goes to show how stupid the sport he is figure head of is really.Seriously? Are you still dragging out the "burger" incident? How many times do you need to be told to go back and think about that incident again? That had no benefit to the Monarchs and I am still confused about how anyone thinks it did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arson fire Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 Seriously? Are you still dragging out the "burger" incident? How many times do you need to be told to go back and think about that incident again? That had no benefit to the Monarchs and I am still confused about how anyone thinks it did. I would reply but it would just be an 'average' response. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R87 Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 Sadly, the attitude of the BSPA towards people who criticize the way speedway is run seems to be "If you don't like it, then don't come". 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fromafar Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 Sadly, the attitude of the BSPA towards people who criticize the way speedway is run seems to be "If you don't like it, then don't come".That is exactly what is happening ,sadly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 The issue of independent governing bodies has run for years without anything ever being done about it. The Promotors of speedway clubs in this country are generally small time businessmen, a body of people of whom believe the only way of running the sport is agreeing a set of rules between themselves. They set up management committees to oversee these rules etc.... At this point it gets messy... How can you operate a management committee without any self interest?...most people will probably say they can't or they've tried but it's never long before the argument of self interest resurfaces. Maybe at this point the bspa should seek assistance in running the sport. Without the promotors we wouldn't have a sport at all, they just need help running it in a more professional manner. Would joining a body such as the sport and recreation alliance be of any beneficial use? Sportandrecreation.org.uk Could the bspa tap into their wealth of knowledge and experience of running organisations and get guidance on a way forward? there's got to be a happy medium out there surely..... a new group/committee that could oversee a set of rules, a body of people whom both promotors and supporters alike can trust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screm Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 Sadly, the attitude of the BSPA towards people who criticize the way speedway is run seems to be "If you don't like it, then don't come". And more and more people are doing that week after week. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Panda Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 And more and more people are doing that week after week. Not out of choice in some cases..............I would love to be able to go every week however I work late one week in 3 and cannot justify the cost of going to every single home or away meeting............I will be going this week as it is last one before play offs and I did go to King's Lynn for the SWC qualifier but I think due to work and costs I think this will only be the 6th meeting this season I have managed to get to...........will do the play offs unless on late shift........and swapping shifts is a nightmare.......... RP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 The Chair does not make the rules of the sport (unless he has a casting vote), he is merely chair of the committee, the committee make the rules. I'm not taking any sides in this - BUT - any Chairperson, if he/she is worth their salt, will Guide their Committee in the way he/she thinks that it is appropriate to go. That is why these people are elected to their Office. So to a point the Chairperson is a very influential position. Granted the Committee have a Vote - but - they should listen to their Chairperson and be guided by him/her.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsunami Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 I'm not taking any sides in this - BUT - any Chairperson, if he/she is worth their salt, will Guide their Committee in the way he/she thinks that it is appropriate to go. That is why these people are elected to their Office. So to a point the Chairperson is a very influential position. Granted the Committee have a Vote - but - they should listen to their Chairperson and be guided by him/her.. But all decisions are not his but. He is a chairman who conducts meetings, that decide matters that he doesn't always necessarily have to agree with. That's called democracy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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