Whats actually going on?

[Chris116]

1 minute ago, Whisperer said:

I think you've missed their point a little Dick, their irk is with the way it has been done without consultation or reference to the effect on the IOW. Barry has said on more than one occasion if there had been some discussion their may have been room for compromise or negotiation.

The Speedway Tavern earlier this week both Barry and Martin made it clear that the lack of consultation and discussion was the real problem.

[gazzac]

49 minutes ago, Whisperer said:

I think you've missed their point a little Dick

Who's been pointing a little Dick?

[barrybishop]

47 minutes ago, Ringitsneck said:

Ego perhaps ?

They have stated their case in umpteen forms and that’s fine, the final choice was theirs.

The claim about costs of reserves wages in the championship doesn’t hold true. Reserves will be paid what reserves get, no cost saving for anybody there. Mildenhall are giving it a go and the latest ‘ IOW for France’ headline is getting them the headlines they seek. I find it very sad that they felt the need to leave the NDL but it’s their business, they chose to leave so it’s their decision. I do hope they resurface somewhere down the line in the NDL or even championship.

Hi there,

I dont know who you are because sadly people on here say things under a Pseudonym, which is unfortunate, and I therefore have no idea who you are nor if you have attended a NL AGM (or any Speedway AGM). If you did attend the NL AGM, then you are clearly trying to cover up the real reason for the reduced limit and this is costs, costs, costs as the chairman shouted across the AGM room at the gathered NL Chairmen (we are not officially promoters) back in 2019. If you didnt attend it, then I you have a right to think as you please, but I can assure you the NL will develop the riders for the CL whatever the points limit. 

Ego.... absolutely not. Standing up for ourselves so at to not be treated as we (and others promoters) have been treated. To say it is wrong to be treated in such a way, to say that we will not allow it was absolutely the right decision to take. As you say it has been said and will continue to be said - you will note the BSPL do not deny it - in any way. They will not of course.  

French League please call Thierry Bouin and ask him... he can update you if he thinks it is a "media stunt".... one thing I have learnt in live us undersell and over deliver so if I had nothing other than positive reactions there is no way I would a, make a right Charlie of myself and look a fool to our fans, sponsors and riders and b, annoy the league we want to join. So there is nothing but the truth in all that is said and we very much hope to be part of their league.

Finally, it is heartbreaking to leave the NDL, we have been part of its success, people love their trips to the island, the IOW actually has improved the overall show at most tracks in the UK... ask them.... they tell me they actively watch us... and that was recognised by the many award we have won. Regards returning to the NL.. the answer remains a firm no unless the leadership changes. Although of course as they concluded in their final email from the office admin, were Martin and I wish to bring the Warriors back we would be treated as a new joiner, have to pay a joining fee and have no vote..... it is a pity this was not employed for all the new joiners to the 2021 NL.

Keep safe and keep the debate.

All the best

Barry

[Ringitsneck]

Thank you for posting an interesting response. Obviously I was not at the NDL AGM and my post was one from a long term , northern based, fans point of view. As I said, it’s your business and your choice as what to do with your club, I have no issue with you or your choice. Whilst it’s disappointing any club finds reason to withdraw from a division because of the rules that have been put in place the same rules have encouraged other clubs to join that otherwise , I’ve been informed, would not have done. I do appreciate that the lack of consultation would have been a major issue and I personally , in your situation, would have also been extremely annoyed with the way the sport is being run.

I am no fan of the ‘ top table ‘ and can only see the sport I love going down the toilet with the current leadership but I also don't see them letting go of the power to an independent body to try and rescue it.

Good luck with whatever avenue you take I just find it a shame you didn’t take the Mildenhall  approach and give it a try but as Ive said, your club , your choice.

[Hawk127]

It is disappointing that the current trustees of the sport are so insular and rarely listen or take on board the wider comments or views of the punters who cross the threshold to be entertained weekly.

Some clubs simply lay on fifteen heats of gate and go and as such simply go through the motions while others attempt an evening of entertainment. In terms of running this sport the powers that be have created a public image that appears to be do as I say or sod off but that is not the answer if the sport is to prosper.

Whether it is an accurate portrayal but for example the Scunthorpe leadership seem to have the ear of the board and have been allowed to be in the enviable position over the last few seasons when the sport has been operational, to dictate what other clubs can or cannot do. Rider usage and race nights are seemingly two examples where some influence appears to have been exerted

Surely with the sport on its knees those with the business acumen such as the IOW should be allowed to prosper and encouraged to think outside the box based not least on their locality particular if this means that the model leads to the introduction of  new fans to the sport. As is mentioned often it is not the supporters money at risk apart from the gamble of the weekly entrance fee yet promotions like the Islanders are putting hard earned cash on the line and are trying to operate a business that provides above all else, entertainment.  

First and foremost speedway is a form of entertainment and given all the issues over riders access to funds and it is down to those riders who have sponsors with deep pockets, speedway does not operate on a level playing field and all the nonsense about rising stars etc still depends on those riders having access to what in effect is a bottomless pit of money in order to compete. Unless and until bikes are standardised, riders use bike handling skills rather than gate and go on over powered machines and those like the IOW are permitted to judge the local business case with risk and reward, then the sport has little credibility and the guarantee that the punters will be entertained is falling well short of fulfilment. I would rather see the IOW entertain than watch fifteen run of the mill heats and disappointed that the current incumbents of the BSPL have so little regard for anyone but their own little enclave.

[Halifaxtiger]

I am not aware that any of the clubs who have joined the NDL have said publicly that they would not have done so without a reduction in the points limit. Given that that would support the decision made by the BSPL (of which they are all members), I find that surprising if indeed it is true.

According to a post from Islander a week or so ago, Eastbourne, Belle Vue and Kent had confirmed that they had no difficulty with a higher points limit.  Given that Kent will have to - due to planning permission requirements - run NDL meetings on a different night to Championship ones and given that the Colts have always had separate race nights from the Aces, that's no wonder (the Colts have always built teams to the full points limit with a definite eye on winning the competition).

Mildenhall made it clear that they wanted no reduction, and Isle of Wight were the same.

Its not difficult to conclude why no NDL AGM was allowed and why the points limit was imposed : because the changes planned to suit the Premiership and Championship (over half of whom don't even have any involvement in that league) might well have been voted down.

If those that have entered the NDL did so with the primary intention of development, then it doesn't really matter what the limit is and thus it would have been no reason for them not to join.

There's no doubt if Barry had felt that Isle of Wight could have reasonably have continued to participate in the NDL they would have done. Faced with an organising body that could not care less about his opinions and the success of his business (only their own self interest) and with absolutely no guarantee that this situation might change, its little wonder that he took the action that he did.

If we are to point fingers at who is to blame for Isle of Wight's withdrawal, lets make sure they are pointing in the right direction.

Edited March 24, 2021 by Halifaxtiger

[barrybishop]

9 hours ago, Hawk127 said:

It is disappointing that the current trustees of the sport are so insular and rarely listen or take on board the wider comments or views of the punters who cross the threshold to be entertained weekly.

Some clubs simply lay on fifteen heats of gate and go and as such simply go through the motions while others attempt an evening of entertainment. In terms of running this sport the powers that be have created a public image that appears to be do as I say or sod off but that is not the answer if the sport is to prosper.

Whether it is an accurate portrayal but for example the Scunthorpe leadership seem to have the ear of the board and have been allowed to be in the enviable position over the last few seasons when the sport has been operational, to dictate what other clubs can or cannot do. Rider usage and race nights are seemingly two examples where some influence appears to have been exerted

Surely with the sport on its knees those with the business acumen such as the IOW should be allowed to prosper and encouraged to think outside the box based not least on their locality particular if this means that the model leads to the introduction of  new fans to the sport. As is mentioned often it is not the supporters money at risk apart from the gamble of the weekly entrance fee yet promotions like the Islanders are putting hard earned cash on the line and are trying to operate a business that provides above all else, entertainment.  

First and foremost speedway is a form of entertainment and given all the issues over riders access to funds and it is down to those riders who have sponsors with deep pockets, speedway does not operate on a level playing field and all the nonsense about rising stars etc still depends on those riders having access to what in effect is a bottomless pit of money in order to compete. Unless and until bikes are standardised, riders use bike handling skills rather than gate and go on over powered machines and those like the IOW are permitted to judge the local business case with risk and reward, then the sport has little credibility and the guarantee that the punters will be entertained is falling well short of fulfilment. I would rather see the IOW entertain than watch fifteen run of the mill heats and disappointed that the current incumbents of the BSPL have so little regard for anyone but their own little enclave.

I am not sure if you are aware but Rob Godfrey, promoter of Scunthorpe, is also the Chairman of the Board of the BSPL. So that would suggest that they do have their ear to the board because he is in charge of it...

[Triple.H.]

3 hours ago, barrybishop said:

I am not sure if you are aware but Rob Godfrey, promoter of Scunthorpe, is also the Chairman of the Board of the BSPL. So that would suggest that they do have their ear to the board because he is in charge of it...

Which proves that the sport should be run by an independent authority

[heathen52]

5 hours ago, Triple.H. said:

Which proves that the sport should be run by an independent authority

Which the current Chairman has stated he is against.

[Halifaxtiger]

19 hours ago, Triple.H. said:

Which proves that the sport should be run by an independent authority

Perhaps surprisingly, I don't agree.  What's to stop an independent authority acting in exactly the same way as the BSPL have done here ? 

The answer is a simple one : Let the teams in competing in each league control their own destiny without outside interference but place adjudication of disputes and decisions under independent control.  

That means that those ploughing time, money and effort into our sport have the final say on operations within their sphere but that the abuse, corruption and self interest we have seen countless times as interested parties determine the outcome of matters relating to the sports regulations ceases. 

[Triple.H.]

3 hours ago, Halifaxtiger said:

Perhaps surprisingly, I don't agree.  What's to stop an independent authority acting in exactly the same way as the BSPL have done here ? 

The answer is a simple one : Let the teams in competing in each league control their own destiny without outside interference but place adjudication of disputes and decisions under independent control.  

That means that those ploughing time, money and effort into our sport have the final say on operations within their sphere but that the abuse, corruption and self interest we have seen countless times as interested parties determine the outcome of matters relating to the sports regulations ceases. 

Agreed, you're idea is far better

[MattB]

The biggest missed opportunity British Speedway had was when Sky got involved in 1999.  They had the perfect opportunity to put together a proper business plan to invest the money into a proper structure to give it a solid foundation to build on and take the sport forward.  But sadly, self interest got in the way.

[SSL84]

2 hours ago, MattB said:

The biggest missed opportunity British Speedway had was when Sky got involved in 1999.  They had the perfect opportunity to put together a proper business plan to invest the money into a proper structure to give it a solid foundation to build on and take the sport forward.  But sadly, self interest got in the way.

Matt B. That's the most honest post I've seen on the forum.  I've said in the past they should have bought Coventry for the sport and had all big meetings there, and used it for the development of young riders ect. 

[topsoil]

12 minutes ago, Trackerman48 said:

Matt B. That's the most honest post I've seen on the forum.  I've said in the past they should have bought Coventry for the sport and had all big meetings there, and used it for the development of young riders ect. 

But now thats why we have a National Stadium

[SSL84]

44 minutes ago, topsoil said:

But now thats why we have a National Stadium

That's true but unlike Coventry which could be used 7 days a week the NSS cannot and if it had of been done back then it could of had a track the same .

[TheWatcher]

9 minutes ago, Trackerman48 said:

That's true but unlike Coventry which could be used 7 days a week the NSS cannot and if it had of been done back then it could of had a track the same .

The NSS seems to be a National Stadium in name only. What is going on there in terms of training the next generation, as was supposedly one of the aims of the original promotion? There was also a lot of talk of speedway apprenticeships, like the Poultec initiative. But there is nothing (even before Covid obviously). The biggest missed opportunity at the NSS was the lack of an incorporated training track within the development, which could have been located in the area beyond the third and fourth bends.

[mikebv]

1 hour ago, TheWatcher said:

The NSS seems to be a National Stadium in name only. What is going on there in terms of training the next generation, as was supposedly one of the aims of the original promotion? There was also a lot of talk of speedway apprenticeships, like the Poultec initiative. But there is nothing (even before Covid obviously). The biggest missed opportunity at the NSS was the lack of an incorporated training track within the development, which could have been located in the area beyond the third and fourth bends.

I am pretty sure there has been quite a bit of training going on at the NSS...

Haven't Woofy, Rory Schlein and Jason Crump all been there doing some work with some of the 'next generation' over the past couple of years.?

I would think that the issue with a training track on those bends would be that the concept of the stadium included the capability to put extra seating in to host 'big events', (like they did at the SWC a few years ago), which I presume is still one of their main aims..

"Bringing more World Class Sport to Manchester" was one of the most pushed selling points to get it built...

[MattB]

5 hours ago, topsoil said:

But now thats why we have a National Stadium

We do.  And it's fantastic.  But it's a case of slamming the stable door shut after the horse has bolted.

I've watched some meetings from that 1999-2000 period over the last year.  The buzz and the atmosphere around the sport then was huge.  Big crowds, terrific action.  It was a perfect base on which the sport could have kicked on.  A bit of vision and joined up thinking by the promoters?  Nope, just go for the quick fix and short term boom.  

[Tsunami]

1 hour ago, MattB said:

We do.  And it's fantastic.  But it's a case of slamming the stable door shut after the horse has bolted.

I've watched some meetings from that 1999-2000 period over the last year.  The buzz and the atmosphere around the sport then was huge.  Big crowds, terrific action.  It was a perfect base on which the sport could have kicked on.  A bit of vision and joined up thinking by the promoters?  Nope, just go for the quick fix and short term boom.  

The SKY money we received was quickly consumed by greedy and demanding top riders headed by the Yanks. It was never available to expand the facilities and the sport. 

[MattB]

1 hour ago, Tsunami said:

The SKY money we received was quickly consumed by greedy and demanding top riders headed by the Yanks. It was never available to expand the facilities and the sport. 

Yes.  It's why I say self interest won at the end of the day.  The riders saw pound signs and the promoters did not stand up to them.  While clearly a portion of the money had to go to the riders, part should have been set aside to lay some foundations in place for long term reward.

So many other sports reaped the benefits of TV money because they had vision over a 5-10 year period.  Speedway was happy to hop on the gravy train until the novelty (and the cash) ran dry.