MD

Next season will be a big year for Josh, being his sixth season in the UK and hopefully one where he break's through into the top rider he has shown glimpses of. He was absolutely woeful in the middle part of 2012, getting over his injury was probably a factor but so also choosing the wrong track to double up at, in Belle Vue. The fast track at Somerset will lend itself well to Josh's style, I hope he does what Craig Cook did at the start of this year and give himself time to gain confidence in the PL before looking for an EL slot in the early summer. Quite a team being constructed at Somerset now that Nick Morris has also signed on.

Interesting team manager, didn't see that coming. I'm sure Sean Courtney also did the same for Berwick for a short time in the mid 2000's. Does Michael Max figure in the new setup? All has gone quiet signing wise.

They are still shell-shocked after the Bellego farce!

Kozza Smith

6.20 on BSPA site

The more I think about it, he seems worthy of his chance. The costs of air fares, transport and accommodation for another untried Aussie could be put to better use. It would also make us stronger from the start with more points to play with, and no reserve in the 1-5. Any appetite for another assessed unknown from Australia have all but evapourated. Perhaps when we apply for a work permit, the authorities will be less accommodating than they were with O'Malley. With this being the re-launch season of Glasgow Speedway and a drive to re-engage lapsed supporters there is little so far signing wise, that will inspire them to come back. With Friday nights now out of the question, a signing just to excite the die hards that turn up week in week out wouldn't go amiss.

Ouch, surely we are smarter than this after what 2012 brought. I wouldn't have Tully, average far too high for us to benefit. For a reserve spot I would look at someone like Max Dilger who has gone well at Ashfield. The Raj K must also be due a return to the UK, at reserve he would be decent and higher up the pecking order than Chazzer Wright in my opinion. If we are starting with a reserve in the main body we need experience at reserve, not a weak 3 pointer.

Hitting 30 is a decent target. Wethers would be a good shout, testimonial over, would start as a second string with no pressure and no hassles of being club captain. I thought we were done with assessed Aussies, hope he will be signed on a 2 year deal. Thereafter we dont have much to play with, Nicki Barrett would do, surely Berwick owe us a bit of goodwill. Racing continuing on a Sunday is a bit of a pisser, reading ET we were apparently turned down. Anyone know if that rejection came from within or outwith the speedway fraternity?

Not seen any mention of Kozza Smith, has he retired, or just been forgotten about?

Sneddon coming back then!

Wethers on 5.79 would be a decent signing for someone, especially as his testimonial season is now out the way.

Who for? A new track could be the real making of Tully.

Joe was really poor at times away from home last year. Josh and Mason were givens that they weren't returning. Looks like a complete change in approach with the new owner putting his own stamp on team building. Perhaps we will know more after the STAARS event on Saturday.

And Scunthorpe are full up too!

Glasgow seem to have offloaded Campton to Workington on a full transfer, just like Rusty after his first season in the UK with Glasgow. I wonder if the sale was part of the deal agreed by the old promotion to pay off some of the debts.

Glasgow have played their part in this sorry saga by not signing him up again for 2012 and putting the matter beyond doubt. It was obvious he was a real find, having more than achieved his starting average of 5 in a short space of time. Instead we signed two 5.00 point Aussies, one of whom we had to go begging to the authorities for a work permit, who it turns out were right to initially decline that he wasn't up to standard. The other hasn't quite achieved his assessed 5.00 avaerage but won't ride for us in 2013. I am acutely aware our 2012 signings were to cut costs, and we couldn't agree terms with Bellego, but the risks had been taken to get him into the side and he confirmed he had something about him. Quite incredibly he then signed for Berwick who I refuse to believe Glasgow couldn't match wages with. Some harsh lessons have been dealt with this and Campton's non return. Hopefully the new Glasgow owner will become a more shrewd operator.

Still waiting on news from the talking shop. Usually somethings have come out by now but its very quiet. Perhaps they are still ongoing!

Why would they possibly disagree? Based on the last 2-3 years it certainly would have no material effect on crowds. The positive to come out of it is that we would probably have to meet fewer times in a season, no bad thing.

Hopefully its not as No1 for Sheffield, as a 7 pointer I don't think he could fill those shoes right from the start. However Sheffield being Sheffield .................

Send Pijper back along the M8 then, we were more than happy to have him again in 2012 but opted two 5 point Australians, neither of whom will ride for us in 2013 for varying reasons!

We had that one worked out long before the season ended and he had scarpered back home before our fixtures had finished. Frustrating that the Glagow owners and key sponsors funded his air fares, transport and entry into British speedway. I sometimes think where we are taking on a young rider in these circumstances again we should base it on a 2 year contract. No doubt Campton has signed for someone else, perhaps one of the clubs that he guested for many times! In the current climate, selling his registration to another club is fantasy, a loan fee is likely.

Dryer weather No parades, first race at the scheduled time Two minutes to include gardening at the tapes Max three minutes between heats when riders have consecutive races Do away with official warnings for anticipating the start but not hitting the tapes. You move your excluded. Too many reruns and too many ref's choosing to apply their own code All in all make the races come quicker to make it more exciting, there is nothing worse than a long drawn out bore fest!

Indeed, Glasgow are trying to move to Friday nights so that speedway is not competing with football on a Sunday and its traffic. By doing so it will allow fans to still see the speedway and have a free Sunday, as the 4pm start time wastes most of the day. Provided planning permission comes through it should be excellent, though you won't be able to please all of the people all of the time as obviously there are some that it won't suit.

A bit harsh IMO. I'm from Glasgow and normally attend Berwick 8 or 9 times a season. The reduced admission Redcar match was only my third visit this year simply because the rain has been awful and put me off, like I'm sure it has also numbed the appetite of others. Last week down for the October week I saw an advert for the reduced admission in Marshall's Outdoor shop. I have also seen adverts for the speedway in Morrisons, Etal Post Office and one of the shops in town. I have also seen them promoting the speedway at Haggerston Caravan Park. Take into account the weather putting off home and travelling fans, the continued economic problems and the lack of tourist visitors to Berwick this year IMO have all added to the problem. FWIW I love watching speedway there and hope that they can find a new sponsor to keep going next year. I'm sure they will.

Who knows what team we'll have, but knowing the club are running in 2013 is good enough. I watched Dyer at Berwick on Saturday and was really impressed with how he has come on from a poorish reserve at the start of the season to looking good at No 2. I also think Dilger would be worth a shout a reserve, he seems to ride our track well when his chains stay on. I think Nick Morris will look for a PL team next year, could the change of race night tempt him? His Sunday Polish commitments this year seemed few and far between, and ended up guesting all over Britain! However we don't know what will happen for next year as reducing costs - 13 heat format, 6 rider teams, only 1 rider above 8, fortnightly home meetings etc. I was also looking at Speedway Star where it seems Sky may consider dropping speedway due to a combination of having to pay more for Premiership rights but also the lack of entertainment, large number of injuries and the same crop of riders guesting to cover. We'll see!