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Pretty much sums it up. "Welcome to the real world" where there is more to running a team than just playing Fantasy Speedway with any name that springs to mind. We can thank the organisation who are the sole guardians of the "best interests of British speedway" for making the rules that we have to play by, one of which is that Birmingham, having been stripped of all its Tony Mole riding assets, by said organisation, a couple of years ago, has to now balance out asset building with on-track competitiveness, whilst those teams with an asset base can plough their resources into a focussed effort of maintaining a competitive team. It'll be several years of team building before Birmingham will be able to mount a title challenge, and I hope that the fans come to realise that. Sights need to be adjusted accordingly. Anyone who thinks "we are Birmingham, therefore we entitled" needs to take a reality check. We are in a different environment, and we're playing catch-up with the established teams in this league.

Just makes the ruling of no NL teams allowed assets all the more ridiculous. Brum could have spent the years in the lower league recruiting and placing themselves in a much stronger position moving forward.

Agreed, Looks like a business signing rather than the best option with the points available. Ultimately if Brum are to survive at a higher level there will be a season or two of building and preparation i just hope that the team can be competitive enough to keep the fan base through the tougher early years.

I'm actually changing jobs because of this Panthers side. I'm going to be looking for a job near the Showground so I can attend meetings after work. I'm even taking a paycut to do it. That's how excited I am.

No one cares. Just sign the petition or don’t. If it doesn’t help then it doesn’t help but no harm is done by signing it.

He is the same standard as a lot of the reserves in the league next next season,I’m quite sure he will give it his best shot and wish him well.To say he will will be the worst rider in the league is very disrespectful he did not create this situation.There a few 2 pointers who will find his home track a challenge to say the least.

A different paper round?

well, they certainly did that in the final last year..

You could get a job as a head gardener. Own bull541t supplied

Try getting a job with the showground caterers, you can't get much nearer than that

Yeah, exactly. Where's Jim Bowen with his "look what you could have won"??? We've had a fair bit of talent come ride for the Brummies at NL level, not one scrap of which we enter the Championship with. Thanks BSPA.

He must have some cr&p staff- everything that has gone wrong is down to them

There might be no Thurrock Council debate on it so what’s the problem. They have backing from the council and the local MP. You’ve made your point the petition is worthless. Let’s move on

Welcome to Tobias Thomsen. Cue the "what, not Danyon?" Outrage...

I take your views, since you have been watching him more often. However we do have a decent track record of improving riders once in the Monarchs family. Here’s hoping we do so again.

Cos we are saintly.

We are going to try everything to get the Hammers back in Essex. It took 12 years to find the Hammers a new home after West Ham closed, let's hope we are more successful now Arena Essex has been compulsory purchased. There are lots of occasional speedway fans in Essex, as shown by the attendances at the last meeting, free and subsidised meetings and the Lee Richardson Memorial. The way speedway has been run over the last 10 or more years has driven fans away from every track, but as a constant attended since 1990, I can assure you we have enough of a fan base and potential fan base to maintain a team in Essex. It's a shame you couldn't make it to Arena for speedway over the years, as it's always nice to meet other forum members. The management and fans are fighting hard to return the team to the area and surely other fans and teams should be supporting that.

The above is from the Redcar thread. And in other news, Ben Barker, on his Facebook page says that he's looking forward to being able to announce on Monday, who he'll be riding for in the Championship. Now join up some dots...

Woryna no,Josh yes,Worrall yes.

Luke lives in Ely in Norfolk moved down there last year and don't think he rode there this year and will depend on how they set the track up next year if it was like this year really grippy he and a few of the new team will struggle

Got a special talent in Jordan Palin

Boring the first time you said it

Looking at the averages how false does Ash Morris figures look i felt as a rider he really has improved.Even in the top five he was battling away hope he can progress again.

Winning races is obviously important in speedway but in league matches its probably even more important to not fill last places. With the team that it looks like we are going to have next season, I don't see us filling many last places at all. We have a top five that is strong all round, and if Becker lives up to expectations he will be beating most opposition reserves. Injuries permitting, I cant see this team finishing outside the top 4 in the league.

Which is why the riders are daft to sign such contracts, if they all stood together and refused to sign the present contracts they would have a bit more clout. If they are happy to be "owned" by a promoter and told what they can and cannot do then that is up to them.