Poole 2020

[Gavan]

1 minute ago, Rockstar99 said:

a. Yes drop down to the Championship. No point putting the clubs future at risk just to please fickle fans like Steve Shovlar. It's all about securing the long term future of the club if that means a couple of years in the Championship then so be it.

b. Speedway is a dying sport in the UK. The attendances will continue to drop. It's a circus in this country tbh. Riders quit clubs whenever they feel like it. Tracks are poorly prepared. Buster and some teams create a new rule book for themselves half way through the season. Only way to sort it out is the following. Money tree's appear and a proper governing body takes over the sport (Nobody associated with a Speedway Club)

c. Spend money but again you would need money tree's to appear. Nothing is for free and clubs have to work within a budget.

Spot on answers

Never did nay harm to Peterborough , Kings Lynn , Ipswich or Leicester to drop down did it......look at the season Leicester are having , im sure their fans are loving it there at the moment and must be easy to promote and bring fans in. As you said you will get one or two fickle fans but they arent really fans if they dont believe in whats right for their club

Speedway is dying and we just need to sustain the sport................bringing back the top boys will not increase crowd levels thats a fallacy....its success that increases crowd levels.........Ipswich attendances didnt go up when Iversen returned , they have risen all season becaus of the promotional work we do and the success on the track

The only issue you have at Poole is they are notorious for going missing when they dont win so if they drop down and the fans dont bother the club could be in serious trouble

I dont see why Ford is worrying about the stadium when he should be concentrating on the track surface

[TheMessiahOfTheBSF]

1 minute ago, Gavan said:

Spot on answers

Never did nay harm to Peterborough , Kings Lynn , Ipswich or Leicester to drop down did it......look at the season Leicester are having , im sure their fans are loving it there at the moment and must be easy to promote and bring fans in. As you said you will get one or two fickle fans but they arent really fans if they dont believe in whats right for their club

Speedway is dying and we just need to sustain the sport................bringing back the top boys will not increase crowd levels thats a fallacy....its success that increases crowd levels.........Ipswich attendances didnt go up when Iversen returned , they have risen all season becaus of the promotional work we do and the success on the track

The only issue you have at Poole is they are notorious for going missing when they dont win so if they drop down and the fans dont bother the club could be in serious trouble

I dont see why Ford is worrying about the stadium when he should be concentrating on the track surface

Could add many others to the list as well. Eastbourne & Somerset just to name a couple.

No point riding Premiership just to please some fans because if you cant afford to then it's only going to put the club at further risk in the long run.

Agree. UK doesn't need the top riders either. Just prepare the tracks well. Improve the overall presentation of the product. Make everything feel more serious. Riders like Robert Lambert who only turn up when they feel like it just to them to run along to Poland & Sweden. Fans would rather see a dedicated 1-7 rather than 6 riders backed up by a NL rider due to someone making up an excuse not to ride. 

Always been that way. If Poole are top with the best team then fans turn up in numbers. If they aren't top and don't look like winning the league then some of those fans don't bother going. Not dedicated fans who stick by the club no matter what. Quite a few glory hunters. Poole have some good loyal fans but some not so. Support the club only when we're winning mentality is bad.

Poole's track is awful. The money needs to be spent on the track rather than the stadium. Not a good spectacle at all. Dangerous that could cause serious injury. The bank holiday fixtures end up as complete dust bowl's. Non bank holiday fixtures see's the track cutting up with ruts and holes appearing most of the time. Have to sort the track out. 

[Steve0]

Not forgetting Swindon - who spent many years in the second division when we also moved away from Saturday nights to Thursday nights.  I really enjoyed this level of speedway and would have no problem if Swindon ride at that level again - except next season - can’t have the league champions dropping down

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

2 minutes ago, Steve0 said:

Not forgetting Swindon - who spent many years in the second division when we also moved away from Saturday nights to Thursday nights.  I really enjoyed this level of speedway and would have no problem if Swindon ride at that level again - except next season - can’t have the league champions dropping down

Swindon for the CL in 2020 then 

[Arthur54]

26 minutes ago, Rockstar99 said:

Could add many others to the list as well. Eastbourne & Somerset just to name a couple.

No point riding Premiership just to please some fans because if you cant afford to then it's only going to put the club at further risk in the long run.

Agree. UK doesn't need the top riders either. Just prepare the tracks well. Improve the overall presentation of the product. Make everything feel more serious. Riders like Robert Lambert who only turn up when they feel like it just to them to run along to Poland & Sweden. Fans would rather see a dedicated 1-7 rather than 6 riders backed up by a NL rider due to someone making up an excuse not to ride. 

Always been that way. If Poole are top with the best team then fans turn up in numbers. If they aren't top and don't look like winning the league then some of those fans don't bother going. Not dedicated fans who stick by the club no matter what. Quite a few glory hunters. Poole have some good loyal fans but some not so. Support the club only when we're winning mentality is bad.

Poole's track is awful. The money needs to be spent on the track rather than the stadium. Not a good spectacle at all. Dangerous that could cause serious injury. The bank holiday fixtures end up as complete dust bowl's. Non bank holiday fixtures see's the track cutting up with ruts and holes appearing most of the time. Have to sort the track out. 

I would say every track has its glory hunters, only go when there winning, not just a Poole thing. I have surported them in the lower league and the higher league, and will continue to do so, win or lose 

[ray c]

8 minutes ago, Arthur54 said:

I would say every track has its glory hunters, only go when there winning, not just a Poole thing. I have surported them in the lower league and the higher league, and will continue to do so, win or lose 

same as me I support my team come what may there are a lot guys and girls out there who haven't got a team to support who would love to go racing every week we are still lucky to be able to do so don't shovlars attitude on this at all still onward and up wards 

[lisa-colette]

1 hour ago, Arthur54 said:

So what are peoples thoughts to the 3 questions 

1. I am kind of on the fence with this one. If the league has 9+ teams I would say def stay but I like the variety of the Champ. Plus the gap between the two leagues isn't that big anymore. Both leagues have a lot of pros and cons.

2. For me during term time Friday is the only good day for me! Lol. But i know most Poole fans will say go back to Weds. Interestingly if we dropped down, Weds would be a realistic option.

3. This one is a little ridiculous to me, they say what changes to the stadium and then say they can't do much cos it's rented! They also say about redevelopment to the track within the grounds but that hasn't worked great for Swindon with all the uncertainty so I would be a little cautious of that, esp when Stadia UK is involved in both situations.

[Steve Shovlar]

28 minutes ago, ray c said:

same as me I support my team come what may there are a lot guys and girls out there who haven't got a team to support who would love to go racing every week we are still lucky to be able to do so don't shovlars attitude on this at all still onward and up wards 

Can’t work out what you are saying here. 

[Steve0]

13 minutes ago, lisa-colette said:

 

3. This one is a little ridiculous to me, they say what changes to the stadium and then say they can't do much cos it's rented! They also say about redevelopment to the track within the grounds but that hasn't worked great for Swindon with all the uncertainty so I would be a little cautious of that, esp when Stadia UK is involved in both situations.

Redevelopment of the track at Swindon has been a great success actually - just redevelopment of the stadium that’s the problem

[lisa-colette]

1 hour ago, Rockstar99 said:

Could add many others to the list as well. Eastbourne & Somerset just to name a couple.

No point riding Premiership just to please some fans because if you cant afford to then it's only going to put the club at further risk in the long run.

Agree. UK doesn't need the top riders either. Just prepare the tracks well. Improve the overall presentation of the product. Make everything feel more serious. Riders like Robert Lambert who only turn up when they feel like it just to them to run along to Poland & Sweden. Fans would rather see a dedicated 1-7 rather than 6 riders backed up by a NL rider due to someone making up an excuse not to ride. 

Always been that way. If Poole are top with the best team then fans turn up in numbers. If they aren't top and don't look like winning the league then some of those fans don't bother going. Not dedicated fans who stick by the club no matter what. Quite a few glory hunters. Poole have some good loyal fans but some not so. Support the club only when we're winning mentality is bad.

Poole's track is awful. The money needs to be spent on the track rather than the stadium. Not a good spectacle at all. Dangerous that could cause serious injury. The bank holiday fixtures end up as complete dust bowl's. Non bank holiday fixtures see's the track cutting up with ruts and holes appearing most of the time. Have to sort the track out. 

Regarding the track, there is a rider who doesn't agree with you! Hans Andersen! He says a rider who has issues with it is just speaking 'hot air.' Wasn't surprised by his comments tbh as when he was a Poole rider he did say the 'bumps' and 'ruts' were just home advantage! Also said if they made it smoother they would make it easier for other teams to win there! 

Edit - he only said this last week btw! 

Edited October 13, 2019 by lisa-colette

[Starman2006]

25 minutes ago, Steve0 said:

Redevelopment of the track at Swindon has been a great success actually - just redevelopment of the stadium that’s the problem

Of course it has, even your promotion said the old track was to big. One observation for me. You put a bit more banking on the turns, for riders to come off and you would have near the perfect track. Now, is the time to do it..

[Steve Shovlar]

I do believe presentation need to be improved ten fold. Get it like Poland. Riders in team suits ( Matt should get this sorted) no mechanics standing around smoking and chatting behind the riders during parade. Riders presented with helmets off. No away team sitting on their bikes desperate to push off, causing issues (Cook)

Start heat 1 at exactly 7.30 on the dot. Not 7. 38 or 7.41. Poland starts within a second or two of the start time. Copy it here.

[lisa-colette]

Interestingly in the Echo of says if we drop down the cost saving is 75%!!  

[poole keith]

drop down it is then!

[ray c]

4 minutes ago, poole keith said:

drop down it is then!

Yes and more people through the turnstiles .more regular speedway and a cheaper product 

[mikebv]

Must confess it's all a bit confusing,,

Some fans wouldnt want to see their team in the Championship as they believe that the standard of racing wont be as good as the Premiership...

Even though they have spent last season (and many before), watching Championship riders riding at their track every meeting, often for their own teams...

In fact the majority of Premiership riders they will watch are also Championship riders..

I presume it's the same logic that has some saying that young novice British riders should be given plenty of opportunities to ride, but, at the same time, saying that they wouldn't pay to watch that standard of rider.. 

So in summary, (if I have it right)...

Some people will quite happily watch Championship riders riding in the Premiership for their own teams, (and willingly pay Premiership prices to do so), but are not prepared to watch the very same Championship riders riding in the Championship for their own teams, (at a lower admission cost than they currently pay)..?

Boris should really ask some of these people to sort out Brexit, the EU wouldnt stand a chance.. 

 

 

Edited October 13, 2019 by mikebv

[TheMessiahOfTheBSF]

1 hour ago, lisa-colette said:

Regarding the track, there is a rider who doesn't agree with you! Hans Andersen! He says a rider who has issues with it is just speaking 'hot air.' Wasn't surprised by his comments tbh as when he was a Poole rider he did say the 'bumps' and 'ruts' were just home advantage! Also said if they made it smoother they would make it easier for other teams to win there! 

Edit - he only said this last week btw! 

One rider. 

Home track advantage yet most of the Poole riders moan about the track when they're losing heavily at home. 

[Starman2006]

16 minutes ago, lisa-colette said:

Interestingly in the Echo of says if we drop down the cost saving is 75%!!  

And where did they pluck that figure from ?  Costs would be slightly cheeper, but the club still has to pay out a hell of a lot of money, insurances, St johns sheeters riders points money travel expences,  Stadium Rent. The list goes on. The difference is you would get speedway vertually every week, so whats lost on the swings is gained on the roundabouts.
And im very sure that Matt would puut together a top notch side. If that was the case then then crowds will still come. Hopefully back to a weds, and maybe slightly reduced admission. But if Matt put together a good side i would dobt fans would complain if the admission price stayed the same

[lisa-colette]

Bournemouth Echo

OWNER Matt Ford revealed how Pirates’ SGB Premiership future could be in doubt – and wanted fans to have their say.

The club promoter on Saturday took to the Pirates’ website to ask supporters their feelings on the future direction of the club.

A key issue from those questions was the importance of which level fans would be happy to see the Wimborne Road outfit perform at next season.

Having been crowned champions in 2018, Poole topped the regular Premiership standings this campaign, in which only seven sides competed to reach the four-team play-offs.

The SGB Championship – British Speedway’s second tier – had 11 clubs competing during 2019.

The Daily Echo understands Pirates must make a decision as to their league future by the British Speedway Promoters’ Association AGM, which begins on November 13.

Quizzed on the future of Pirates, the most successful British speedway club of the modern era, Ford told the Daily Echo: “We have to question if us staying in the Premiership, with a lack of opposition, is the way forward long term for the club.

“Not just for one or two years, because whichever decision we make I feel is for the longevity.

“But it must be made with the thoughts of the public I feel, rather than just being made in the Poole Speedway office.

“One or two people have already mentioned to me that they would like to see more opposition and different clubs.

“I am really now trying to get an overall picture rather than just one or two people perhaps I know personally.”

The Daily Echo last week revealed Pirates had taken a significant financial hit, after 2019 main sponsor No1 Carpet Cleaning Limited went into liquidation.

Asked how much a drop to the Championship would save Poole financially, Ford replied: “I would say it’s about 75 per cent of the costs that we experience.

“That would have a pretty big impact on the club.”

Championship fixtures this season had also been run on Wednesday, Pirates’ historic regular race night until Thursdays were introduced for the Premiership this year.

 

“I would certainly look at the change of race day also having an impact on crowd levels,” added Ford.

“Crowds are down around 20 per cent.

“After many years of the club riding on a Wednesday, of course it was always going to be a situation where we would see how we went during the course of the year.

“But it’s not been a good move. I do feel the club and the fans do prefer Wednesday speedway. It’s something we have all got used to over a number of years.”

A full list of questions for supporters can be found at poole-speedway.com. Responses can be emailed to info@poole-speedway.com.

Pirates are accepting replies to the questions until 8pm on Monday – further talks with league chiefs set to take place in the coming week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 13, 2019 by lisa-colette

[TheMessiahOfTheBSF]

Pirates should drop out. It's a no brainer. If the fickle fans don't get behind the team then oh well.

Asked how much a drop to the Championship would save Poole financially, Ford replied: “I would say it’s about 75 per cent of the costs that we experience.

“Crowds are down around 20 per cent.

Championship fixtures this season had also been run on Wednesday, Pirates’ historic regular race night until Thursdays were introduced for the Premiership this year.

Answer is staring Matt in the face. Drop down to the Championship. Unless you want a small group of fickle glory hunting fans to run the club into the ground spoiling it for the true fans.