Weymouth For Sale

[PinkMidget 0]

what has he actually got to sell? does this now mean that someone could go in for it and start it up as a new business cos at the moment, it appears to be in Phil's name and not as Weymouth speedway

Edited November 16, 2010 by PinkMidget

[thundercats83 0]

as far as im aware yes if someone came in and set up a new ltd company agreed and deal with owners of land for rent and aquired the promotors licience from the bspa then yes they could run weymouth speedway

[jules m 6]

Taken from todays Weymouth Echo.

 

Cockle's blast at Bartlett

8:48am Wednesday 17th November 2010

 

By Adam Summers »

 

ECHO rider of the year James Cockle has blasted outgoing chairman Phil Bartlett for not being up front about the Weymouth Wildcats’ financial problems.

 

Cockle, along with several of the club’s other riders, are still owed wages and have been told by the promoter to contact the sport’s governing body, the BSPA, where a bond is in place to cover the shortfall.

 

The Wessex Raceway was repossessed on Monday due to a failure to pay the rent, which has put the future of speedway in Weymouth in serious doubt.

 

Cockle, who claims he has been trying to contact Bartlett for several days, said: “I am writing a letter to the speedway control board and I have spoken to the other riders, who are also owed money.

 

“Phil said he would pay us at the end of season presentation evening but halfway through the night he disappeared.

 

“If it was pay for just one meeting it would not bother me as much but I am owed money for approximately three of four, and that adds up to a fair amount.

 

“The other thing that upsets me is that Phil actually called me up a couple of days before the presentation evening and said that as I have been with him at the club for a few years now, he sees me as a friend rather than just a work colleague.

 

“How dare he say that and then just completely write me off.

 

“Riding is part of my livelihood and because of that I have been living without money, which is completely unfair.”

 

When asked about the club’s failure to pay Cockle, Bartlett told Echosport: “It is true that James has not been paid but a contingency is in place at the BSPA and he needs to contact them, along with the other riders. There is a bond in place for them to fall back on.”

 

Bartlett went on to add: “With everything that has been going on, would you have wanted to speak to James about it?

 

“I know I should have done and I am very sorry for that but I have been busy and ill, and have hardly had the time to phone anyone.”

 

Despite reported interest from a potential buyer – understood to be Matchams Leisure Park’s Craig Robin-son – Bartlett believes speedway is “not viable in the town” in the current climate and has since backed up that statement with statistics.

 

He said: “We were paying £35,000 in rent, which included £27,000 to Wessex Delivery Partnership LLP for the lease of the land, and £8,000 to Weymouth FC for the use of their facilities.

 

“In order to break even we needed around 500 to 600 people coming through the gate every week and that was clearly not happening. We were not even getting those sorts of crowds when we won the Conference League in 2008.”

 

As well as having the track repossessed, the club has also had to return its licence to the BSPA. Bartlett added: “Again this is for non-payment despite the fact the BSPA have owed me money for two years, whereas I owe them six months’ money.”

 

All the off-season training session dates at the club have naturally been cancelled but Cockle is still holding out hope that speedway will survive in the town.

 

He said: “Hopefully someone will come in and take the club on. I have loved representing Weymouth and it really is a brilliant place to ride.”

 

 

 

Its people like Cockle and the other riders and companies that he owes money to that I feel sorry for. Its Ok saying the BSPA bond will cover it but 6 months unpaid fees is an awful lot of money, I'm not sure how much is held in bond but by the time the fees and riders wages are taken out there ain't going to be much left if any. I also think that riders only get the minimum points and travel money as dictated by the league not what they were being paid by the club although I am sure none were on anymore anyway, I m ay be wrong though. Its a very sad time for Weymouth speedway, I hope someone comes in who has a passion for the sport, knows how to run a club and is aware of all the financial implications before they commit to something they cannot sustain.

 

Jules

[gazzatopfuel 15]

bspa have made it clear, there is no money for weymouth riders

[Wildcat Steve 33]

Shame feel for James its not funny money goes nowhere in speedway. not the first rider to be left high and dry ask George one of the reasons he quit. he loved his time at Oxford and would have gone back but his heart was at Weymouth and it was never the same after he found out he was dropped by reading it in the press while he was recovering form concussion.

Still makes me sad when I think about it. Like many you end up on the outside looking in after you put a lot into the club.

Still time to hope someone will come in and we can all give our support once again

Edited November 17, 2010 by Wildcat Steve

[Wildcat Steve 33]

Those training sessions in 03 and 04 were good fun and produced a few good riders who are at different levels of league racing now, so it just shows what can be done.

 

Just have to hope someone comes in with the right financial backing to make Weymouth Speedway work once again, it will be a hard job but I'm sure there is someone out there with the right ideas who could see them through

 

I still think it can work club just needs its heart back

[gazzatopfuel 15]

its not just james, all the riders are owed for at least 2 meetings, bspa have used bond for fines imposed on phill. so its not as straight forward as it may seem

[Wildcat Steve 33]

its not just james, all the riders are owed for at least 2 meetings, bspa have used bond for fines imposed on phill. so its not as straight forward as it may seem

Agree my apologies never ment to leave out the rest.

[gazzatopfuel 15]

probably your age lol only joking mate, hope your well, but seriously the only way boys are getting paid is if bspa have change of heart or new promotion honor this dept. some hope eh?

[oldswindonsupporter 42]

"Again this is for non-payment despite the fact the BSPA have owed me money for two years, whereas I owe them six months’ money.”

 

Something doesn't seem to add up here! If this is correct then the BSPA have a case to answer in that why have they not paid PB and why weren't they monitoring payments - to end up being owed 6 months money (not sure what this is meant to cover or be for) smacks of poor administration on the part of the BSPA. Shouldn't they have been involved after a month of non payment?

 

Also how can the bond to used to pay a fine? Can someone explain that? Do the riders who haven't been paid have a case against the BSPA?

 

All in all, no matter which way this is read, an absolute mess.

 

Rgds

 

A

[stressed 0]

So it seems that the BSPA want to take their money rather than pay the riders out of a bond they hold for these such circumstances Bloody disgusting treatment!

 

Their fines should be last on the agenda after the riders have been settled up otherwise what is the point of the bond in the first place?

[castrolargh 263]

And of course everything that has been written by or qouted by mr bartlett is all absolutely true, and there can be no doubt it is his side that should be treated as a true representation of the facts ?

[Tsunami 10,219]

And of course everything that has been written by or qouted by mr bartlett is all absolutely true, and there can be no doubt it is his side that should be treated as a true representation of the facts ?

 

Exactly, he would like to appear to be the victim but he doesn't look like from from my direction.

[dave69 1,534]

its not just james, all the riders are owed for at least 2 meetings, bspa have used bond for fines imposed on phill. so its not as straight forward as it may seem

That`s taking the piss,riders should be first.That`s what the bond is there for.

[squall 270]

And people slate Neil Machin and Buxton for being tight arses... at least they can pay their riders every penny they are owed - immediately!

 

From what I've read, Phil Bartlett isn't a great loss to Speedway. Good riddance springs to mind...