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Aries, you have hit the nail on the head. Speedway has been a big part of my life for over 50 years and when/if Ipswich don't come to the tapes next year that will be it for me I'm afraid. Next nearest track Oxford or Lynn, both well over two hours away. Not the Christmas present I was hoping for tbh ...

Don't often agree with you @Aries but this is spot on. This isn't Ipswich specific, just my opinion in general. For me, a sports club/organisation exists for the fans first and foremost. There may be an owner/figurehead but everything always has to circle back to those who support the club. Without them there would be nothing. They turn up week in, week out. If they didn't then the club could fold. Seems a bit off that the person who they've been supporting and entrusted with the custodianship of their team can then just decide to pull the rug on them.

Disagree I’m afraid Jason. Why couldn’t he reassure the supporters that there will be Speedway next year? The fact is, his latest interview a week or two ago, he couldn’t guarantee that when pushed. Why couldn’t he say that he wanted to sell the club (no problem, his choice), but if no buyer came forward in time, he’d continue to run it whilst a buyer could be found for the longer term? Just like the Bates’ have done at Sheffield?? Instead, he’s gone on local radio and caused unnecessary stress to a lot of loyal supporters, by not confirming there would be speedway next year, all whilst jetting off to sunny Australia for a nice sunny Holiday with family. Just before Christmas too, nice! Anyone who has been a regular at Foxhall over the years, will know Margaret and her Daughter, Heather Lay. Two huge servants to Ipswich Speedway over decades. Working tirelessly selling draw tickets and helping running the supporters club over many many years. I caught up with Heather towards the end of the season and we had a chat. She was quite openly telling us that Margaret wasn’t in the best health these days and was struggling to get about. But she STILL makes a huge effort to attend Foxhall every meeting. She said if it wasn’t for her beloved Witches, she’s not sure she’d “still be here”. I wonder how they’re feeling right now and looking forward to Christmas? They won’t be alone either. For a lot of people, it’s not just something to do on a Thursday evening, it’s become a massive part of their lives going back decades. They’ll all be feeling worried sick that their Speedway is about to be taken away, just as Christmas is approaching. Look at the reception they got at the Town hall a few weeks ago. It’s was pi$$ing down, it was a lunch time, and was announced at short notice. And the people of Ipswich turned out in great numbers to celebrate, along with the Mayor. There’s great people who work at the club, most voluntarily, loyal sponsors who have backed him to the hilt financially, and of course, a core of loyal supporters. All been left totally in the dark and wondering what on earth is going on. I can only imagine how annoyed fans of Wolves, Arena/Lakeside , Peterborough, Swindon, amongst many others must feel, who have seen their speedway taken away from them due to track unavailability, see another club potentially not running despite a viable club and available track just sitting there. Ok, it may well break in the next days/weeks that he’s successfully sold the club on, OR, he’s staying and will continue to run it, but that won’t change the fact that he’s handled this very poorly. In my opinion! Obviously.

Knowing the standard of how well the BSPL have written the rule book it will be as watertight as a colander. depends if he agreed to run in a 6 team league I guess. He did make it clear he wasn’t going to participate in a 5 team league before the sale announcement.

Glad to have Harris back in the engine room! 🙌🏻

Yep I think your right, not a number 1 ,compared to other teams

But several clubs are rumoured to lose lots of money, so paying the fine means you have no hassle running a speedway team in the present climate, and saving time and effort to get riders, replace riders, organise rescheduled fixtures etc etc. If this is correct no wonder both Sheffield and Ipswich are struggling to find a buyer

That won't help any bargaining position when selling then.... I would offer £100k less knowing this....

If he can get back to the level he was at before breaking his wrist and also keep up last years performances at Edinburgh (38+1/42 points scored) he has a chance but he will have to do it at number 1 so will be tough. I think if he can break into the 9 point range and hold it he would have had a great season

No. Because they declared they will not race. Ipswich declared they would

Did Oxford get fined £100k for dropping out?

They should wrap it in red and green sparkly paper during December... That way the Royal Mail will prioritise it....

Rumours are 3 home 3 away meetings in the league, then the play offs. So imo very repetitive when only 4 teams will visit your home track. I know of several people at various premiership tracks, that won't be going to see all home meetings due to them visiting a minimum of 3 times

Jem Doncaster at No2,...... The Lanhams at six and seven.... Only three more riders needed.... Maybe Chris himself at four?

I feel for Pinegen. Royal Mail are slowly destroying their business. Our postman openly admits that they prioritise parcels in the area we live in, a mere 18 miles from where the Star is printed, and that mail stacks up because the bosses won’t allow letters to be delivered with overtime as delivering letters is loss making and parcels aren’t. Fortunately our postman is a bit of a Speedway fan, and grabs my mail from the sorting office when he can as a bit of a favour to me, but sometimes his round gets changed and my delivery of mail returns to crap. There seems little point in buying first class stamps these days.

With the lack of teams in the premiership and with it a lack of meetings it could be a good time to bring back the inter-league cup again. It could be an interesting selection of meetings once they worked out who would ride for who with all the doubling up. Mind you they could tweak the rules and the doubling up rider could ride for both teams on the night but when due to meet each other in a race one team would have to use a reserve replacement. Sounds stupid I know but very feasible in this day and age of speedway so get Mr Morris on it straight away and put out a press release 🤣🤣🤣

As an out and out Ipswich legend it'd be unthinkable stain for him to be the one to close the club down. Goodness knows what's actually going on and as has proven with the rest of the Premiership he must be losing a lot of goodwill with his radio silence and lack of explanation to the fans. Whether there's genuinely a sale going on or this is all a game of brinksmanship, who knows, but if Ipswich are to run next year, they're leaving themselves in a pickle if/when trying to assemble a competitive team, as Jason Doyle has already shown, with any uncertainty riders will ultimately look after their own interests and sign on elsewhere. You can have Drew Kemp at No 1, he's a local lad... consider it a Christmas present from Leicester 😁

Until we know the full facts it’s very difficult to apportion blame. chris is keeping a dignified silence atm rather than mud slinging as you would expect but something substantial has obviously happened to get to this point.

I was giving him the benefit of the doubt early doors, but my patience with him is wearing thin. I’m incredibly disappointed in Chris Louis.

He’s hardly retirement age is he? Look, he gave an interview on local radio post play off success, stating that the hard work was already underway in building “another title winning side”. He was in a jovial mood after winning the league. There wasn’t a sniff of this happening and we’re talking only a few weeks ago. Let’s have it right here, he’s gotten the hump over something recent, probably the meetings running up to the original date of the AGM where things haven’t gone the way he wanted. Have they gone the way the other clubs/promoters wanted? Of course not! I’d bet NONE of them particularly want to run a five team league!! But they’re all prepared to battle through what is, to keep a Premiership going. All except the owner of arguably the most well supported, stable club in the Country.

I just do not see how Dan T could possibly get to a 9.5 average. It would be great to see a young brit get to the same level as Lawson and higher than Chris Harris but on all I have seen up to now I just don't see it although I have no doubt he will be a good number one in this league and maintain his current average.

Yes! I'm afraid, whether you like it or not, that is the responsibility you have when you take on a sporting club, especially a historic, well supported and successful one like Ipswich.

No because not only are the business models are completely different but so is the relationship to the community. You also have to factor in that whenever a football club is put up for sale it will always sell as it’s a investment. Sheffield have proven that no one will make an offer for a speedway club, Louis has had no offers. What is he supposed to do run it until his dying day?

🎣

Correct i spoke to Drew on what should have been the day of the AGM. He did say due to the logistics of riding abroad he would more than likely not be riding in Championship this season.