screm Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 (edited) I have given this a thread of its own, I know the statement has been posted in the Berwick v Rye House thread but not everyone will visit there, hopefully more will see it and hopefully come up with ideas as to how to save Berwick Speedway. On behalf of his fellow-directors, John Anderson today issued a statement regarding the future of speedway at Berwick.“Speedway has been an integral part of the fabric of life in and around Berwick for nearly fifty years, and we want this to continue – but it might be time for fresh attitudes, people with newer, younger ideas to take over the task and help us share a burden which has become very, very heavy to carry”.“I don’t want to be thought of as scaremongering – this isn’t us saying that we are closing down, we’re not!”“But when I look back, I see the previous custodians of this great club – the Taylor family, the Fairbairns and Peter Waite – all had a burn cycle of around a decade, and maybe our own ownership has reached the point where new blood is required”.“This is about owning the club, paying the bills – not about promoting or managing the team”.“Myself, my son Ryan, George Hepburn and George Fairgrieve are the shareholders, the ones who have to ensure the club comes up with the money each week – and we are proud to say we have always paid our riders, and our bills, right on the nail”.“In the past, this speedway has been able to soldier on through thick and thin, and we truly, deeply want the club to continue into the next fifty seasons – but we just can’t do it alone any more”.“It isn’t just the financial burdens we are carrying, heavy though these are, it is a terrible strain on our mental and physical health, and when that begins to take its toll it has to be time to take a step back”.“So what I am saying is, there are two ways to go from here”.“We would welcome further investment from interested parties who might share our wish to see the sport remaining as a vital, irreplaceable part of a Saturday night out in Berwick-upon-Tweed and who might want to take on a part of our shareholding and stand beside us, working with and taking some of the load off the present directors and in time perhaps taking more and more control”.“Alternatively, we would be prepared to sell the company outright. Lock, stock and barrel to a new custodian who -- and I make this clear – we feel could be trusted to serve the Bandits and their fans in the way of our honoured predecessors”.“If a total sale was to happen, this would be required to be decided well in advance of the BSPA’s AGM in mid-October, so any new owner could decide who should represent their interests as promoter(s) at the AGM and other meetings”.“I said there were two ways to go from here, but there is a third option”.“Our dearest wish is that speedway continues at Shielfield Park, but to be honest, we could close the doors at the end of the season and cash in. Take the money and run!” “We’d take our share of the League’s profits from big events, sell off the rider-assets, the safety-fence and regain our bond – and by doing so, our company would almost certainly end up well in profit for the year!”“But this is the last thing we want to do, despite the obvious financial advantage”.“We really want new partners to join us to take the club forward, or we want to sell it on as a going concern to a suitable buyer”.“We are saying this now, at the end of July and with a three-week gap before we race again, to allow any interested parties to make contact while we aren’t too busy preparing for matches”.“But we have to make clear that if we don’t find new investment, or we don’t find a viable purchaser before October then the dreadful alternative of closure has to be contemplated as a serious and very final option”. Edited July 27, 2015 by screm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 This doesn't look good. I really hope that someone can be found to take over at Berwick. It would be very sad to lose such a long running Track like that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
comet49 Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Hopefully a solution will be found for Berwick to continue, been running a long time and would be a miss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ch958 Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 unless the issue of costs is urgently addressed this scenario will repeat accross the leagues 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screm Posted July 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Can I just apologize for the way my copy & paste turned out, I hoped it would be easier to read. If someone could post a link that would help others to read the statement I would be grateful, again I apologize. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The White Knight Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Can I just apologize for the way my copy & paste turned out, I hoped it would be easier to read. If someone could post a link that would help others to read the statement I would be grateful, again I apologize. Nothing to apologise for screm. Thank you for passing on this sad News - that is the important thing. :approve: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenga Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 difffic I have given this a thread of its own, I know the statement has been posted in the Berwick v Rye House thread but not everyone will visit there, hopefully more will see it and hopefully come up with ideas as to how to save Berwick Speedway. On behalf of his fellow-directors, John Anderson today issued a statement regarding the future of speedway at Berwick.“Speedway has been an integral part of the fabric of life in and around Berwick for nearly fifty years, and we want this to continue – but it might be time for fresh attitudes, people with newer, younger ideas to take over the task and help us share a burden which has become very, very heavy to carry”.“I don’t want to be thought of as scaremongering – this isn’t us saying that we are closing down, we’re not!”“But when I look back, I see the previous custodians of this great club – the Taylor family, the Fairbairns and Peter Waite – all had a burn cycle of around a decade, and maybe our own ownership has reached the point where new blood is required”.“This is about owning the club, paying the bills – not about promoting or managing the team”.“Myself, my son Ryan, George Hepburn and George Fairgrieve are the shareholders, the ones who have to ensure the club comes up with the money each week – and we are proud to say we have always paid our riders, and our bills, right on the nail”.“In the past, this speedway has been able to soldier on through thick and thin, and we truly, deeply want the club to continue into the next fifty seasons – but we just can’t do it alone any more”.“It isn’t just the financial burdens we are carrying, heavy though these are, it is a terrible strain on our mental and physical health, and when that begins to take its toll it has to be time to take a step back”.“So what I am saying is, there are two ways to go from here”.“We would welcome further investment from interested parties who might share our wish to see the sport remaining as a vital, irreplaceable part of a Saturday night out in Berwick-upon-Tweed and who might want to take on a part of our shareholding and stand beside us, working with and taking some of the load off the present directors and in time perhaps taking more and more control”.“Alternatively, we would be prepared to sell the company outright. Lock, stock and barrel to a new custodian who -- and I make this clear – we feel could be trusted to serve the Bandits and their fans in the way of our honoured predecessors”.“If a total sale was to happen, this would be required to be decided well in advance of the BSPA’s AGM in mid-October, so any new owner could decide who should represent their interests as promoter(s) at the AGM and other meetings”.“I said there were two ways to go from here, but there is a third option”.“Our dearest wish is that speedway continues at Shielfield Park, but to be honest, we could close the doors at the end of the season and cash in. Take the money and run!” “We’d take our share of the League’s profits from big events, sell off the rider-assets, the safety-fence and regain our bond – and by doing so, our company would almost certainly end up well in profit for the year!”“But this is the last thing we want to do, despite the obvious financial advantage”.“We really want new partners to join us to take the club forward, or we want to sell it on as a going concern to a suitable buyer”.“We are saying this now, at the end of July and with a three-week gap before we race again, to allow any interested parties to make contact while we aren’t too busy preparing for matches”.“But we have to make clear that if we don’t find new investment, or we don’t find a viable purchaser before October then the dreadful alternative of closure has to be contemplated as a serious and very final option”. difficult to read for those with visual impalement and partially sighted.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scaramanga Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 unfortunatly i fear that this will be workingtons last year in the sport so i feel for all berwick fans aswell as scunthorpe and any other track who looks in danger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george.m Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Good luck to all this impacts on. I'm sure Berwick will be running next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigeddiechek Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 I think the statement shows that the current promotion will try their hardest to keep the club going. It also shows how difficult and stressful a task it is, on top of the financial struggle. That is why I have strongly supported the promotion (and previous) on here. It's easy to criticise, mighty difficult to run. I desperately hope someone can come in to help keep speedway alive in Berwick. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodiepatchie Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 I think the statement shows that the current promotion will try their hardest to keep the club going. It also shows how difficult and stressful a task it is, on top of the financial struggle. That is why I have strongly supported the promotion (and previous) on here. It's easy to criticise, mighty difficult to run. I desperately hope someone can come in to help keep speedway alive in Berwick. if it closes at the end of the year I fear that will be it gone for good maybe we should have better supported the club financially as supporters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandits4eva Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 if it closes at the end of the year I fear that will be it gone for good maybe we should have better supported the club financially as supporters The way things were gone about at the start of the season was all wrong. Would be good if both parties can just sit down and talk about ways to help each other out 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodiepatchie Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 The way things were gone about at the start of the season was all wrong. Would be good if both parties can just sit down and talk about ways to help each other out both parties are as stubborn as each other unfortunately Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandits4eva Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 both parties are as stubborn as each other unfortunately Don't worry... I've got a fair idea of what's gone on behind the scenes.. but for the survival of our club, if communicating between one another could help, then surely it is a no brainer! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodiepatchie Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Don't worry... I've got a fair idea of what's gone on behind the scenes.. but for the survival of our club, if communicating between one another could help, then surely it is a no brainer!i would like to think so anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screm Posted July 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 First off the promotion deserve credit for releasing a statement apologising for the defeat on Saturday night, its clear from that they are as disappointed as anyone as to the way it went. Today's statement lays the future clear, it would be a tragedy if speedway closed in Berwick but its clear that if an out right buyer doesn't come forward, or a new investor in found then that is a very real possibility and if it goes then its very difficult to see it ever returning. Sad thing is I don't think this wont be the last statement we see of this kind coming from a club this autumn/winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goodiepatchie Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 How many clubs have to close before our illustrious leaders realise something drastic needs to be done to save British speedway 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screm Posted July 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 The way things were gone about at the start of the season was all wrong. Would be good if both parties can just sit down and talk about ways to help each other out Whatever the rights and wrongs maybe the situation the club finds itself in could bring everyone together. We need our speedway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halifaxtiger Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 I have said this on the Berwick-Rye House thread, but I am saddened by this news and hope that a solution can be found. I believe that John Anderson has tried very hard to make speedway in Berwick attractive enough to pull in sufficient customers to make it pay or make the losses sustainable. He deserves better. Scunthorpe, Plymouth and now Berwick. Edinburgh had the begging bowl out in April. Workington's gates have been poor and only a week or so ago Brian Havelock was saying that Redcar are 150-200 down per week. You really have to fear for the future of the PL (and I am an optimist) unless some radical changes are made. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolcol Posted July 27, 2015 Report Share Posted July 27, 2015 Hi a wat about th Vip Club? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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