philcrumpisgod

Much as we would all like to see speedway back in Newport I can't see this as a goer for a few reasons. Yes it appears that the stadium would be "perfect" for speedway but there would be substantial investment required and I can't see a queue of people lining up to part with their money for the huge risk that would be involved. The stadium is located quite close to residential areas to the South East, the North and North East and I can't imagine the good people of Traston and Pontfaen allowing speedway to return here without a barrel load of objections if it ever came to planning. Some might call it NIMBYism but those properties have been there for 50 years or more and you can guarantee that the overwhelming majority of residents, with a fair propertion being in the "older" category, will NOT be speedway fans. Yes, there are plenty of willing volunteers still about who would jump at the chance of helping out again for the right promotion but the Malletts eventually built one of the strongest teams we ever had in the modern era, won the KO Cup and were rewarded with a few hundred fans through the gate the week after. Love them or hate them, I heard they lost the thick end of a few hundred thousand quid in three years and, it appears, the family haulage business. I suspect Peter Mole's reported £60k investment to save the club in 2010 was probably lost as well. Not particularly inspiring for any new promotion. Politics aside, we are in the middle of the longest economic slump for decades and not enough people have sufficient disposable income to go to the speedway. 300 or so people turned up at QM each week for the last 3 seasons and things haven't got any better since the end of 2011. I'd love to be proved wrong but, in general, I reckon the best way back is a friendly landowner, a track cut out in a field and some basic facilities to get started. It might not be a fantastic stadium but it could mean low cost entry and a chance to build from there.

I'm sure that if any business wanted to mitigate their taxable profits they could/would do it without broadcasting it to all and sundry. The fact that Poole have chosen to highlight this matter seems to me to indicate that there is a real problem here and one which is more indicative of the dire problems facing British speedway. Cracking jokes, making fun and pointing fingers doesn't appear to me to be any way forward. If Poole, with everything they have going for them, start to make substantial and or regular losses, what hope is there for everybody else?

Let me be clear here, I do NOT intend this to be a Poole bashing thread. Regardless of what some people think about them as a club, the truth is they appear to be successful and are apparently the one with the biggest crowds and the one most switched on when it comes to business acumen. With that in mind, should we not all be more than a little concerned with the report in today's Star about them losing their 2 main sponsors and making a financial loss last season? After all, if Poole cannot make a profit (and actually make a loss) with all they have going for them, what is in store for British speedway as a whole over the next few tough years of general economic hardship? Most clubs are not run with the benefit of a wealthy benefactor, so how on earth will the rest survive?

Thanks for the replies, will see how it goes on Saturday

A few months ago I downloaded this app to my android phone after reading a thread about it. Can't find the thread now for more info but I'm sure last year I saw people at Cardiff with these apps looking like they were using it as a mini race card. Am I dreaming about that or can I use the app at Cardiff live so to speak and what will I be able to do on my phone with it during the meeting? Sensible answers only please...............ta!!

Sorry ftb but I don't think I agree with you. I am not advocating Newport steps down to the NL because I'm looking forward to seeing what the Wasps can do from the off this year but look back to a couple of season ago when the Wasps were dreadful and the Hornets were doing really well and in the running for the title. Because fans were cheesed off with the Wasps, the Hornets became the preferred team to watch. I know which I looked forward to watching at the time and there was a real buzz about going over to see Todd and co strutting their stuff. I would say that the crowds weren't much different between the Wasps and the Hornets as people wanted to go and see the winning team and not the team who were getting beaten every week! I think the reason why Newport now don't run the Hornets is because people can't afford to watch two lots of teams, last year the Wasps were great and the Hornets poor, the club lost a lot of money and something had to give. IF, and it is a BIG IF, Newport lost PL speedway but ran a succesful NL team instead, I'd definately go and I suspect so would the majority if not all of the current Wasps fans. Maybe if the Malletts lose big money again this year with the Wasps team they have assembled somebody might just step in and take the club NL and run it with a top team and decent crowds for that level of racing, who knows, but I think there would be an appetite for the NL amongst Newport fans in the right circumstances.

Is it now safe to assume that you have changed your mind about the thread being started about Mark apparently riding here illegally although you didn't answer me directly when I challenged you about it

Wanna, can you tell me anywhere in this thread starting post where I have questioned Mark's legality to ride over here? It is as clear as day, I only asked when he was returning home and who might be replacing him when he went. So please do not read something sinister into the topic when it is not there, and thanks scribbler for realising the same.

Further apologies for also bumping this thread up but any news yet?

Apologies for bumping this up, any news?

Well, Mark has now ridden his last home meeting for the Hornets as his stated scheduled return date is 2nd September. Quoted in the Star, Laurence Rogers states that the club intends to sign a new rider soon ".......because Mark Jones' six month UK permit is up in early September and he has to go back to Australia". I'm not an expert on UK Border Agency rules by any stretch so does anybody know what these 6 month permits are and does this now confirm that Mark's stay and competing for the Hornets was completely kosher? As far as ontrack matters are concerned, Mark leaving leaves us needing to fill a big hole in the team which could see us seriously weakened if we don't get a strong replacement. With only away fixtures left to complete, we have already dropped to 3rd and our silverware quest for the season could be seriously undermined. I sincerely hope that the club have something substantial up their sleeve so that the season does not drift away after such an excellent start.

Yes, as JT says above, bitterly disappointing all around especially for the Malletts and Gary Ward and his team of volunteers for working so hard to get the floodlights ready in quick time for tonight's meeting. Two Fridays on the trot now as well No doubt there will be a meeting under floodlights soon and maybe then tonight will be forgotten but for now, disappointing to say the least.

Whilst I don't necessarily disagree with what you've written here gp, I would like to make it clear that I didn't start this thread with the intent of trying to force our club into making a potentially embarrassing defence of their employment of Mark, it was simply to ask if anybody knew when he was due to leave us (for whatever reason) and whether or not Tim might return in Mark's place when he left. Beginning to think BFD was right and I shouldn't have bothered airing the question on here.

I ain't saying nothin' about the prospects for this evening's meeting, not after last week's against Rye House when Sky weather forecasted drizzle in the afternoon with the rain clearing by 6pm. It didn't Light won't be a problem this evening of course but the precipitation might be. Feel sorry for all those hardy souls making the long trek down knowing the weather isn't so good. I hope it's on and we get a great and historic meeting

Yeah I know that but it's in the Newport programmes, both Wasps and Hornets, as on Saturday the 11th. The BSPA site couldn't even keep up to date with the NLKOC fixtures from 2 months ago so these days it's difficult to know what or who to believe .