HendoWozGud

I'm pretty sure he does do it voluntarily and never ever wanted the position in the first place. He didn't put his hand up for the job and I believe would rather not continue in the job BUT, no-one else is coming forward to offer their services and he's therefore in a catch-22 situation as if he steps down he believes no-one will step-up. Steve Pate is someone that loves his speedway and Newcastle Diamonds. He's one of those faithful few, that includes Rob BTW, that is on the track the moment they're allowed after the greyhounds have finished on a Saturday night working on the track until 2:00am and then returning first thing Sunday morning for more preparation work. He's also part of the crew that turn up as early as they can on a Monday to clean-up to meet the Stadium owners' requirements and ensure The Diamonds can continue. As for the Press Officer? The Club have approached a few people who they believe would do a good job. For one reason or another they have all turned it down. Mostly because they don't have the time that the role requires and wouldn't want to do half a job. Lawrence Hepple has been a great servant for Newcastle Diamonds but everyone has their tipping point and unfortunately he appears to have reached his. I'm fairly sure that anyone stepping into his shoes needs to be positively aggressive and chase the stories ensuring that the fans who pay their money and are entitled to know SOME of what is going on get to know that. It's a far from easy job that requires time and commitment but it is also a role that Rob would love to have filled by someone he can bring into the fold and improve the communication channels.

Forgive me for adding fuel to the fire but the negativity from the moment I walked into the stadium until the moment I left was palpable. At times I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Clearly the Diamonds fans I spoke with, and some of them are very long-standing ones as well, have had enough. They already appear to be voting with their feet as the attendance yesterday was poor and without the Redcar fans it would have been dreadful. Someone said there was no atmosphere. There was from the Redcar fans but even they by the end were not as loud as they had been as they seemed somewhat embarrassed at how easy it was. Lest not anyone forget that they were excellent, really attacked the track and looked like a team that has been racing consistently and were on their metal. Newcastle on the other hand were completely the opposite. Very, very rusty indeed apart from Howarth and again he's racing consistently. Losing Starke before the meeting was a huge blow. It may even get bigger if the rumours about him are true. Not my rumours BTW but rumours none-the-less. The Diamonds need a decision on BWD. Either get him fit and see what he's got to offer or cut him loose. Wethers may well have a broken foot and be out for some time. The experiment of Congreve and Complin has been a disaster. One clearly is not ready for the show and whilst it's commendable that he spent so much of his own money, took the gamble to try and make it over here and can be applauded for doing so it's clear he's not good enough and the Management need to remember they are running a business. The other reserve may or may not have suffered some poor refereeing decisions but in six rides he failed to score a point on his own track and when you weigh up that against what younger, fitter, hungrier reserves did in opposition again it begs the question that will he ever be good enough? Clegg was clearly upset during the meeting and afterwards and his head just doesn't appear to be in it. Around Brough he's great, usually, but he needs more rides elsewhere if possible as he's another suffering from lack of track time. He has it within himself but his confidence and will seems lost at the moment. Don't disagree within the current crop of riders of having Wright as captain but it's hard when he hardly sets his own track alight to see how he can inspire and help anyone around him. He's another clearly struggling for form and direction and until he finds that or indeed if he finds that can not be expected to be able to help others around him. It does perhaps seem a bit harsh to say that Heat 2 was the killer yesterday but it was. The feeling in both sets of camps when that race was completed and the riders returned to the pits was insane. One team already looked beaten and the other knew their opposition was there for the taking. Have I any ideas where Newcastle can improve? No! But I'll tell you this, they do need to do so and quickly as it could be another track walk in September to remember what used to be. I do believe that Rob, Dave, Steve and those behind them are doing everything they can to change things around and are working night and day to try and change things. They are not stupid, they are realists and they can see themselves just as the fans can that things need to change. Questions are 1.) have the will to do it? 2.) have they the money to do it? and 3.) if the answers to 1 & 2 are yes, have the riders they approach have the belief that they can do it? From the outside looking in it's a mess. Leicester and Poole are the next two home meetings. Hardly a sobering thought for an administration and Club clearly out of sorts and battling against the odds. No BWD, no Starke and losing Wethers about two solid rides are all things that need to be taken into consideration. This is a side that is about to go into June and haven't had a chance, sometimes not of their own doing, to gel and become consistent. They may never get that. I could urge patience. I could implore fans not to lose faith but it's very difficult to see that happening given the current situation. The terraces are just as shorn of regular committed fans as they are of new faces coming to watch. Speedway is a sport that is a spectacular and worthy one to support but it's very difficult to do so when the team you're watching week-in, week-out are so ineffective. I also say that with the greatest respect to the guys going out there. They are trying their best but it's obvious they are not feeling it whether it's with themselves, with their machinery, with the promotion and management or just speedway life in general and that's hard to see and accept as fans. One thing I would like to say and in some ways it might be another negative from a positive was the track. Without doubt the best I've seen it in years and seemed very smooth and fast reflected in the race times given out. Perhaps then that's one problem solved and now the Promotion and Management can move on to the next? Let's hope so as when I drove away from Brough Park last night I was seriously wondering how many, including myself, can continue to turn up and watch a famous, historic part of British Speedway slowly and painfully slip away.

Personally I thik the Promotion are to be congratulated on the team they have brought together. They all seem as if they want to be there and are looking forward to the challenge and all are capable of progressing and upping their averages.

Keep your eyes on the website! Should be some good stuff coming soon. H

Who's next?

So Aarnio, Kus and Palovaara without clubs and Edinburgh still to name three? And yes, I know they won't ALL fir in but ........................

I just wish The Merry Monarchs would hurry up and confirm the last three. Some of us have work to do that depends upon it.

Getting almost to the point where the prediction thread will be opened.

Matej Kus is a major possibility from what I'm hearing.

Throw Ben Barker in to the mix?