HGould

Wonder if his fitness for start of season may be a factor in looking elsewhere, at least initially?

In the cold light of day surely the concept of running CL and PL is too great a financial risk in this era for anyone. Putting 2 and 2 together though is it possible Kent and Mildenhall may be saved by a few Clubs running NDL. Possibly Oxford, Scunthorpe Stags, as double down from CL and PL respectively? Would anyone else join in?

He'll pay considerably less than half the current CL in the PL. But he'll not lose money and have a competitive home team. If they average 25 points away he'll save money. He is very pragmatic. He's outlived a lot of dream merchants.

I think you're all missing the blindingly obvious. Rob G has always paid what he can afford, always been on the case of those paying PL rates in CL. There will be 42 spaces in PL He'll bank the TV money and basically pay higher CL rates and build a team to be competitive at home. Certain riders excel there, some of the fancy dan high earners will never have been there. He'll run PL on a budget and pick a team who'll ride for the pay. They will always be paid. He won't have the ego that says he has to win, that's not his style.

I did predict a few weeks back on a couple of threads that either Ford or Godfrey would fall on their swords as Management Committee Members so protect the Discovery deal and ensure a 6 team PL if Brummies couldn't. To much derision from South Coast I may add. Scunny it seems have obliged.

There IS a solution and it is a BREAKAWAY like in the 60's I think Adrian Smith (much missed) was closeset to advocating this and was effectively ground down by the Management Committee. How could it work, and could it actually be done without rancour and massive disturbance. The issue lies not with the BSPL solely on this. The structure needs changing and the SCB needs abolishing. The ACU who link to the FIM need to authorise 2 separate UK bodies - a PL body and a CL body (once authorised and with FIM approval and DIFFERENT titles they could become autonomous) Let the PL as we'll call them for now take the Discovery Money Let the CL as we'll call them for now take the kudos of the Owners of Glasgow, Poole and the experience of some of the excellent Promoters in the CL and go their own separate way. Allow some Riders to double up / a select number of heat Leaders and an age restricted section (under 24) so each can have 2 from each group. All the PL would need to find then is 18 riders from round the globe who could ride PL only. Over time this could be wickered down or left as it is if required. It won't be easy, it won't be pretty but it needs doing and it needs doing NOW! Other sports can do it...The PL and EFL work under separate auspices, the TCCB and the Hundred work under different auspices, various Rugby Union bodies work under different auspices, Darts wourks under different auspices. It DOESN'T have to be "all out war" it can be a Parting of the Ways for the benefit of the Sport.

I've never killed anyone whilst driving a train, a car, a motor bike and hope I never do,nor seriously injure someone. The impact must affect anyone with a conscience who does. The incident at Edinburgh when Craig's bike injured a photographer will have affected him deeply. He was totally blameless. Mental illness is silent, it is terrible and not to be underestimated or laughed at. Craig is many things but for gods sake let's cut him some slack and let him try to rebuild his career his confidence and his self esteem.

ENTAIN do run Monmore and took over Ladbrokes ARC do run horses at Dunstall Park and Dogs at Perry Barr. ARC are moving Dogs to PB. They are however and remain 2 totally different Companies and rivals. Premier Racing is merely TV rights. Horse Racing has 2 main UK broadcasters Sky Racing 415 who have ARC tracks amongst their clients and RUK who have Jockey Club and Irish Racing which used to be with Sky (formerly at the Races ATR) The long term plan is that both Monmore and Dunstall Park will run Dogs under their respective Owners on the newly formed greyhound racing channel. London used to have numerous dog tracks, Birmingham had PB and Hall Green and Wolverhampton ised to have 2 tracks Monmore and Willenhall.

Geoff probably looked a lot harder and more seriously than they did at times. Whilst Cradley were using Monmore and getting decent Crowds the intensity of the search most likely subsided. CVS had his hands full, Pearson had his hands full as for Patchett who knows?

I'd certainly like to hear something from Nigel and his Partners by the end of the week. He's gone above and beyond and in my opinion deserves to tell his side of the story first either way. What we don't want nor need is some form of Management Committee embargo or fudge. If we can't run despite valiant efforts and due to Landlords we need to know soon as it is known, not as an afterthought in some BSPL fudge. In Nigel we trust.

Only one reason that I've repeatedly explained. To save the TV deal, possible litigation by Disney and the skins of Management Committee who are actual Directors of BSPL Ltd with most to lose So if one Club Has to step up to make 6...will it be Poole or Scunthorpe? There has to be a minimum of 6 Clubs under TV deal doesn't there?

Noaksy answers that perfectly Poole could, Oxford can't.

Isn't it part of the Discovery deal that PL has to have a bare minimum of 6 Clubs? Glasgow have said no, Oxford can't as race nights not available. I've said for weeks Poole may have to step up to save the deal.

Wish them well Most brownfield within that sort of time from City Centre would be either in the Monmore vicinity or on the old industrial sites round by Goodyear. There are very nice residential areas out towards Penn, Tettenhall, Bridgnorth and Pendeford, Perton, that would never get planning permission. Jaguar site at M54 or within current Bilston area would sound most logical. What Wolves do have is a Council VERY keen on Sport in general, team and Olympic Sports and Amateur sports.

Wheels is being levelled and lots of other land round it bought up. Strong local suspicion is its Knighthead, the new Owners of Bitminghan City Fc. They are in conversations with City Council to take on the site, pay for decontamination and build a 62500 roofed arena for sports, concerts etc including a secondary athletics stadia for major events and ladies football etc Thats a 3 to 5 year plan. Wheels as a stox venue won't exist if not already gone in reality.

Can understand the logic. However ARC have made a long term decision to move their operation to a far more salubrious venue over which they have long term control and potential. Corbally are sat on a piece of land in a prime location with development opportunities where the leaseholder has walked and the sub tenant cannot take over financially as the leaseholder. There is no other credible leaseholder. The Council have been bankrupted by central Government underfunding and 2 decades of mismanagement locally by both political parties and a local Mayor who is just interested in photo opportunities and his own reelection which is unlikely A perfect storm sadly with Speedway as the biggest loser as the other parties will most likely get what they want in the medium term. Speedway gets nothing and Mr Tolley loses a lot of money and a lot of effort.

I'm sure ARC will break the Lease. No one would take them on for doing that, neither Corbally nor the Council. Corbally would then assume all ongoing costs and would have to work out minimum to open the gates. Energy, insurance, staff, so many other things. They would look to recoup a fair chunk of the 25k per month they get now. Staff would be reduced massively and would need contracts for 12 to 15 nights a year instead of 20 to 25 a month. Birmingham Brummies attract crowds of 500 to 600, I can't see Corbally wanting less that 10k a month, so effectively 10k a meeting. So the average crowd would may be cover the rent. Sadly just can't see it being feasible. Nigel will have to be very wary that the Management Committee don't screw him over just to get the 6th team. That's the equivalent of sticking Polyfilla in the San Andrea's Fault and the Sport totally missing the point.

Clearly he does but I doubt if he could make Perry Barr pay if he had to take on the 300k lease per annum that ARC have taken on. His Greyhound TV income from the tracks he controls would be a fraction of what ARC have received for a prime venue in PB. It's clear that he has successfully found a niche with a streaming option that is good at picking up medium level dog venues with lower overheads and lease / rental agreements from the top level dog venues. The crux is that Corbally called a tune that ARC were happy to play / pay but the probability of anyone else being able to play / pay at that level without the prime TV deal is nigh on impossible. It's important to point out that an afternoon UK dogs meeting is beamed to massive massive betting markets in Asia and the Far East who are 7-8 hours ahead so prime evening betting markets on a massive scale compared to UK domestic markets. Thats the market ARC / Entain are playing in and why they see Speedway very very sadly as being not only irrelevant but something of a pain in their Corporate necks!

I doubt the turnover on those smaller tracks combined is much more than one of the bigger grossing tracks like Monmore. ARC are part of a massive Group and Entain gobbled up Ladbrokes Boothby will be playing in a lower sphere in terms of dog racing.

Poole and Swindon from memory Thats not the issue though You need the TV to generate betting turnover and income, literally globally, particularly in the Far East. ARC and Entain have that tied up and if you ran dogs without it, those who turn up and bet simply can't generate the turnover.

The fact though is that Corbally are now up the creek without a paddle and a boat full of holes. Corbally were totally reliant on ARC and their predecessor before them. The prospects of someone taking over the dogs is nil. ARC hold the TV rights for Bags and dog racing transferred to Dunstall Park . ENTAIN formerly Ladbrokes hold TV rights at Monmore. No space for more TV rights in this neck of the woods. Not enough dogs. Speedway is reliant on dogs or something generating the cash to cover lease ARC paid. You might find another sub tenant, which Tolley may have alluded to when saying he might find 300k to take on the Lease but what sub tenant!??! No chance of Stocks on noise and planning. Any other credible sport is either elsewhere like American Football, Rugby League or Union but very minority interest in Brum and stadium totally unsuitable anyway Sad very very sad to say just cannot see a way forward without dogs?

They should re-home a few XL Bull Dogs and let them roam round the site at night. That would stop the bar stewards!

Well done Poland. What a shame we can't do exactly the same and boost our young talent. Frankly would any on that list enhance British Speedway to the detriment of Pijper, Perry, Boughen, James, Harrison etc.

It would require I believe a majority of the other clubs to refuse to re-elect the current committee and refuse to offer new nominations and to call an EGM. To then seek to move a vote of no confidence and to propose a change of articles of association. Then agree a new Board. As an example a proven part time CEO. Then a Board ofAn ACU or RAC accredited person from another form of motor sport with administrative experience, an ex Promoter, an ex Rider, an ex Referee. So purely hyperthetically Keith Heuwen Adrian Smith Chris Morton Tony Steele

Agreed I think we all thought 12 months. It's also easy to overlook how little they have to do. Everything is there other than track and fence. They literally just have to plug in from extensive electrics and realign the brilliant existing lights slightly. Kennels would be easily installed too. They could feasibly be running early 2024.