Peterborough Panthers 2023

[Crump99 4,476]

25 minutes ago, Shhalewhhale said:

Which fans is Butterfingers working with?

I do believe that someone had an e-mail exchange so probably that counts?

[Shhalewhhale 26]

6 minutes ago, Crump99 said:

I do believe that someone had an e-mail exchange so probably that counts?

You're probably right.

[chrismorton 332]

Not sure I can bring myself to go either after that statement..it's like a final visit in hospital to someone on life support that's going to be switched off soon because the owner of the hospital needs the space.

[TTT 1,227]

4 hours ago, Panther1997 said:

http://www.peterborough-speedway.com/news.php?extend.4258

 

PETERBOROUGH Speedway tonight (Thursday) stages its final league fixture at the East of England Arena with the visit of King’s Lynn.

We fully understand this will be an emotional occasion for our supporters, following confirmation that speedway will not continue at the venue in 2024.

First and foremost we want to thank everyone for their tremendous support this season in general, and more particularly in recent weeks where our crowd numbers have been superb, matching the team performance and quality of racing, and the result has been a wonderful atmosphere at our home meetings.

We also do not under-estimate the financial strain caused by the busy recent period of Monday-Thursday meetings, and we can only thank you for your continued patronage during such a tough time.

However, it is necessary for us to address several items of wholly inaccurate speculation and insinuations which have appeared online from a very small minority over recent days.

We have worked with our landlords AEPG over the last 12 months and more to ensure that the 2023 season did take place at the East of England Arena, and they have been particularly helpful and accommodating during this busy period.

Any suggestions that there is a situation beyond that whereby the ownership and promotion of Peterborough Speedway could in some way benefit from the closure of the site are completely and utterly false.

We have always been aware, as tenants, that this season would very likely be the last at the venue, and that the long-term future of the club needs to be elsewhere. This situation has not changed, and it will remain the case whoever is at the forefront of the club.

The current ownership will give every possible assistance to all efforts to retain the sport in Peterborough – but it should be clear that simply selling the club will not solve the fundamental issue of the need for a place to race.

The club has continued to invest heavily this year and did not throw in the towel even when results over the first half of the season were not up to scratch and a play-off challenge was therefore out of the question.

This was with a team which was largely not constructed by the current ownership, as it had been anticipated that a club sale would take place last winter. The exception was the final signing of Nicki Pedersen, which did not work out for reasons which have already been documented.

However, rather than drift to the end of the season, we introduced new riders – with costs associated – which did dramatically improve performances and results, and we hope provided everyone with a good deal of enjoyment over the closing weeks.

We are members of the Sports Insure Premiership and, despite inaccurate speculation elsewhere, it was always our intention to run our final fixture against King’s Lynn, which takes place tonight. This is correct for the integrity of the league, the contracted riders of both clubs, our season ticket holders, and the wider public who wish to attend.

However, the rapid arrangement of the fixture, which was only finalised on Monday afternoon, led to our decision to run a Farewell Meeting at a later date, which we felt was right to give everyone the opportunity to make plans for one final visit, rather than finish with a meeting which had been announced at 72 hours’ notice.

We categorically reject any suggestions that this meeting is solely being arranged as a ‘cash cow’ and would respectfully suggest that anyone of that opinion has the option to be wherever they wish on the day the meeting takes place – whether at the Showground or elsewhere.

The nature of the comments we have read caused us to seriously consider pulling the idea of a Farewell Meeting and simply ending the season after tonight’s meeting – which in fact would be easier logistically, given the timescale and volume of work required prior to vacating the site.

However, we have decided that out of respect to the vast majority of our loyal supporters who deserve the opportunity to give our home a fitting send-off, we will go ahead with the Farewell Meeting and hopefully by tonight we will be in a position to confirm a date.

Everyone has worked hard to keep the club operational through an immensely difficult period, and everyone feels huge sadness that our time at this venue is coming to an end.

What we cannot accept are remarks which verge on the slanderous, made by people who are not in possession of the full facts much as they would wish to believe they are.

We hope to see 15 heats of thrilling speedway tonight, and we hope everyone enjoys the meeting.
 

 

Lol that's one hell of a tantrum by Buster.

[TTT 1,227]

This is Michael's facebook post, Spread the word if you can. 

Edited September 14, 2023 by TTT

[iainb 5,017]

I see that the Peterborough management have deemed it necessary to Tweet that club statement out about an hour ago... what, in a last ditch effort to try and attract a crowd tonight?

Jesus! It's like a family bust up at a funeral... smh

Edited September 14, 2023 by iainb

[Bald Bloke 3,287]

2 minutes ago, iainb said:

I see that the Peterborough management have deemed it necessary to Tweet that club statement out about an hour ago... in a last ditch effort to try and attract a crowd tonight?

Jesus! It's like a family bust up at a funeral... smh

I expect a decent crowd tonight, tweet or no tweet.

[Mick Bratley 474]

5 hours ago, Crump99 said:

Firstly, that wasn't the impression given on the centre green in Sept 2022 although it would clearly need a fight throughout 2023 to change those circumstances that we were told were needed to give Panthers a 2024 and beyond. And as I've said, credit for giving us a  good deal of enjoyment over the closing weeks be we needed that season long fight which has been lacking and is now being ramped up, possibly too late, by the likes of Mick Bratley. Bratters to his credit, fully appreciates that you don't upset this lot when you're working with them for Panthers so it's not surprising to see the excellent working relationship quote   "they have been particularly helpful and accommodating during this busy period"

Unless they know something that we don't, what hasn't changed is AEPG's responsibilities under:

Policy LP36: East of England Showground:

Proposals for development should not have an unacceptable adverse impact on the surrounding
uses (especially on occupiers of nearby residential properties), and all development should
ensure that the character of the area is maintained.

A comprehensive master plan in advance of, or alongside, any significant proposals will be
required and, if approved by the council in advance, this would become a material consideration
in the determination of future planning applications. Such a master plan must demonstrate how
the functioning Showground will be retained.

The loss of any existing leisure and sports facilities will not be supported unless replacement
facilities are provided in accordance with policy Policy LP30: Culture, Leisure, Tourism and Community Facilities

LP30: The loss, via redevelopment, of an existing culture, leisure, tourism or community facility will only
be permitted if it is demonstrated that:

k. The facility is demonstrably no longer fit for purpose and the site is not viable to be
redeveloped for a new community facility; or

l. The service provided by the facility is met by alternative provision that exists within
reasonable proximity: what is deemed as reasonable proximity will depend on the nature
of the facility and its associated catchment area; or

m. The proposal includes the provision of a new facility of a similar nature and of a similar or
greater size in a suitable on or off-site location.

Now I'm no expert but there are questions to answer for AEPG/PCC in an alleged open and transparent planning process and those answers potentially need to be challenged? With inadequate answers or justification a new club owner could get 3 seasons at least until a new local plan is adopted in 2026 so I'm not fully convinced by that part either; although it would probably require one or both planning applications being turned down or PCC telling AEPG that they have to honour LP36 & LP30. Not forgetting, from Peterborough Today: The Peterborough Local Plan for 2016-2036 says that 650 homes on the Showground is an acceptable number; though building works might take a decade.

The fact that Butterfield is quoted as saying: “We are working with the Speedway fans and owners but we understand the disappointment that the speedway is moving from Peterborough.” does raise some alarm bells because surely that decision is yet to be made or go in their favour?

 

‘Excellent working relationship’ has always been code for ‘they are absolute fekking knob jockeys’

[iainb 5,017]

Just now, Bald Bloke said:

I expect a decent crowd tonight, tweet or no tweet.

There's absolutely no need for it

[JoeW436 595]

Tomorrow probably would of been a better time for a statement.

[Flappy 1,605]

Sounds like a night for a protest or 2

[TTT 1,227]

1 minute ago, JoeW436 said:

Tomorrow probably would of been a better time for a statement.

Probably trying to get people to turn up after Buster's shambolic display on Monday night, That was a cold hearted KO punch for many I'm sure.

They've actually turned off the replies on both posts (Facebook & Twitter/X) which basically tells us everything we need to know really......Buster can't take any form of criticism.

[chrismorton 332]

5 minutes ago, Flappy said:

Sounds like a night for a protest or 2

I'm having mine by not going..the miserable, lying p#### is not having anymore of my money.

[Crump99 4,476]

28 minutes ago, Mick Bratley said:

‘Excellent working relationship’ has always been code for ‘they are absolute fekking knob jockeys’

But necessary to communicate or they put the rent up you used to say

[Crump99 4,476]

3 minutes ago, chrismorton said:

I'm having mine by not going..the miserable, lying p#### is not having anymore of my money.

Don't really get that he was lying. It's what he believes or was told to say but it doesn't bear scrutiny to what's in the public domain so was full of holes unless he knows something that we don't?