Panthers89 1,922 Posted October 2, 2014 Great! Hardly a surprise, looking more bleak than ever now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spencebel 181 Posted October 3, 2014 Worrying times yet again.... We need a buyer......... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lucifer sam 3,953 Posted October 3, 2014 It really is high time that Mick Horton was kicked out of speedway once and for all. All the best Rob 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maneacat 473 Posted October 3, 2014 Posting this link in the hope that someone from the BSPA will see the item and understand the type of person they entrusted our precious club to! http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/speedway/speedway-news/frost-fury-at-horton-s-promotion-of-panthers-1-6336680 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Halifaxtiger 5,318 Posted October 3, 2014 (edited) Speedway: The future of speedway in Peterborough is in serious doubt again. Current Panthers supremo Mick Horton has told the Peterborough Telegraph he will not return for the 2015 season. City businessman Horton has decided to pull out of a two-year leasehold agreement with club owners Rick Frost and Julie Mahoney after just one season of Premier League racing. Horton has told the Peterborough Telegraph that losses spiralling to as much as £60,000 have forced his hand with crowds falling some way short of the levels anticipated. And he says a Premier League Cup final first leg showdown against treble-cashing Edinburgh at the East of England Showground on Sunday (2pm) may be the final chapter in a city speedway story stretching back to 1970. There are two massive reasons for people to turn out in force on Sunday, said Horton. There is the chance to see us race in a cup final in what could potentially be the clubs last-ever meeting at the Showground. And that is not just me scaremongering. It is 100 per cent certain that I will not be in charge next year through circumstance rather than choice. Our operating losses this year are somewhere in the region of £60,000. I didnt come back into Peterborough to make money and I could have lived with spending a bit, but not this sort of money. I was let down by potential investors before the season even started and the move to a regular Tuesday race-night did not work out at all. The fans have not turned out in the way I hoped they would. We needed our crowds to average around the 800-mark, but they have been closer to 500. The product is great. The racing has been terrific but the club needs the backing of sponsors and supporters. Im not making excuses and I dont want people to feel sorry for me. But the buck stops with me. All I hope is that someone will step in to keep speedway going. Horton acknowledges that money is owed to riders for September meetings and stresses every penny will be paid. He also experienced tough financial times during his last spell at the Panthers helm between 2003 and 2005 at Elite League level. But he insists he has no regrets about returning for a second stint when the clubs future was up in the air last winter. He added: I let my heart rule my head when stepping in to keep speedway going in Peterborough. I dont have any regrets about doing that, but it is no secret Ive become a bit disillusioned with the way things have gone. I did not realise the situation would be this bad. A lot of people down the years have found out that Peterborough loses money year-on-year. Hopefully Rick and Julie will get back involved as the club needs them. They can provide the financial support. Peterborough Panthers co-owner Julie Mahoney hopes the city club can race on. Panthers future is again up in the air after current supremo Mick Horton announced he is walking away from the club at the end of this season. Horton has quit halfway through a two-year leasehold agreement struck last winter with Mahoney and fellow owner Rick Frost. Mahoney and Frost are not in a position to take on hands-on running of the club again, but they are keen for it to survive if buyers can be found. Mahoney said: Mick has not formally told us that he will not be continuing, but we are aware of the press reports today and he hasnt honoured the terms of the lease that were agreed last winter The club will definitely be available and myself and Rick will happily to speak to any interested parties. I must admit though it is doubtful we would consider another leasehold arrangement given our experiences this year. Were not in a position to run the club ourselves as we simply dont have the time due to our business commitments, but it goes without saying we would like it to continue after investing a lot of money and time at Peterborough over the years. Frost and Mahoney rescued Panthers from the brink of financial oblivion in the summer of 2008. They remained at the helm until taking the decision to resign the clubs place in the Elite League at the sports annual meeting last November. Horton stepped in to front a consortium which ensured that racing in the city would continue, but he claims to have been let down by potential investors before suffering financially. He told todays issue of the Peterborough Telegraph that he has lost around £60,000 during the 2014 campaign - the clubs first at Premier League level since 1998. It will be completed with an appearance in the Premier League Cup Final over the next few days. They host Edinburgh in the first at the East of England Showground on Sunday (2pm) a meeting Horton has billed as potentially the clubs last-ever at home ahead of a return clash in Scotland next Friday (October 10). Source Peterborough Telegraph BBC Cambs Sport tweeted: Owner Rick Frost says Peterborough Panthers won't compete in the Premier League next year unless he is able to sell the club. #panthers Is it me being ridiculously optimistic or is there some hope in those words ? Wouldn't he say that there would be no speedway at all unless he was able to sell the club if that was his intention rather than pointedly ruling out PL speedway ? It really is high time that Mick Horton was kicked out of speedway once and for all. All the best Rob That's very harsh, Rob - he deserves better than that. Its entirely possible that Peterborough would not have run this season without his involvement. EDIT: that piece in the paper has sunk my post without trace Edited October 3, 2014 by Halifaxtiger Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maneacat 473 Posted October 3, 2014 Not harsh at all imo HalifaxT - have you read the link I posted above a few minutes earlier? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SCB 0 Posted October 3, 2014 Posting this link in the hope that someone from the BSPA will see the item and understand the type of person they entrusted our precious club to! http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/sport/speedway/speedway-news/frost-fury-at-horton-s-promotion-of-panthers-1-6336680 How has what Mick has done any different to what Rick had done and Colin and Mick before them? They've all failed to make Peterborough viable. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panthers89 1,922 Posted October 3, 2014 Well hope I win the Euro Lottery soon, about our only hope. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Halifaxtiger 5,318 Posted October 3, 2014 (edited) Not harsh at all imo HalifaxT - have you read the link I posted above a few minutes earlier? I did............after I had posted But the point I made still stands - without Horton, there's every possibility that Peterborough would not have run this season anyway. SCB also has a point, too. Frost closed the track, so will Horton. Yet somehow the opinions are good riddance to Horton, please come back Mr Frost. The only difference is Frost has money, Horton doesn't. Edited October 3, 2014 by Halifaxtiger 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
maneacat 473 Posted October 3, 2014 I did............after I had posted But the point I made still stands - without Horton, there's every possibility that Peterborough would not have run this season anyway. SCB also has a point, too. Frost closed the track, so will Horton. Yet somehow the opinions are good riddance to Horton, please come back Mr Frost. The only difference is Frost has money, Horton doesn't. Of course that's true maybe it would not have run without Horton - but and its a big BUT the way it has been run has been so depressing, unprofessional and heartbreaking to longtime fans to witness meeting after meeting. Frost doesn't just have money - he has respect, integrity and professionalism - words I would suggest Horton would have to look up in the dictionary! There are many rumours and one instance I was made aware of by a very trusted source(not for posting on here before anyone asks) which demonstrated to me the current position we find ourselves in is no accident or just bad luck. Yes I will feel very sad and shall miss it hugely if there is no new owner comes in to rescue the club but after 40 odd years of attendance I just don't think I could bear to go through another season like the one just coming to a close. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jenga 2,998 Posted October 3, 2014 (edited) i know i have not been on many( if any ) panthers supporters christmas LIST but i do hope something can be worked out for the fans. not just the panthers fans, but all speedway fans in the uk who love the showground. maybe if a deal cant be struck to keep it open . there will or could be an option to run maybe the fours/plrc and any speedway finals. it qould then be classed as a neutral track and give the local supporters some form of entertainment at least once or twice a season. .. would love to see you in 2015 in the pl. even if its just to winde you up. stick in and hope for the best.J/ Edited October 3, 2014 by jenga Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Panthers89 1,922 Posted October 3, 2014 i know i have not been on many( if any ) panthers supporters christmas LIST but i do hope something can be worked out for the fans. not just the panthers fans, but all speedway fans in the uk who love the showground. maybe if a deal cant be struck to keep it open . there will or could be an option to run maybe the fours/plrc and any speedway finals. it qould then be classed as a neutral track and give the local supporters some form of entertainment at least once or twice a season. .. would love to see you in 2015 in the pl. even if its just to winde you up. stick in and hope for the best.J/ Your harmless, its just banter/laugh anyway, both our seasons headed south for the winter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pantherite 5 Posted October 3, 2014 Typical. Blames everybody but himself for the short-commings. Product may be "great" (although not as great as he thinks it is!) but a spectacular failure to do any actual PROMOTION is clearly a massive part of yet another failed ownership. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scoobydoo 2,254 Posted October 3, 2014 Why doesn't Rick employ someone to manage and run the club for him if he's not got the time Peter Oakes would of been ideal so someone along his type of speedway roots could be his front man with him just pulling the strings , Horton was a nightmare last time he was involved in the club and many fans had said they had no trust in him and so it's been proved that the fans should be listened to at times 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LagutaRacingFan 1,936 Posted October 3, 2014 My brother who is a Dentist said he isn't interested in running the club. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
