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Germany does not begin with N.

Awaiting for SS to come out with Howarth makes Lynn stronger

Give me a break! I follow British leagues from Poland but it is beyond all standards. How can he ride if his avarage is too high???? This is basic rule, cannot be changed simply because both teams agreed. That makes the sport a joke. Completely. Can't imagine such think in professional leagues in Poland. British speedway is state of mind.

Every professional sport needs to be organised and run with integrity and credibility to be accepted as a sport that can be taken seriously. Speedway constantly shows that it has neither. Yesterday we had a situation where the Chairman of the BSPA was apparently prepared to go along with his team using a guest rider in the second leg of the most important team fixture of the season who had ridden for the opposition in the first leg. I can but hope that he realised the impact that would have on how silly that would make the sport look but that he was prepared to pay that price to give his team the best opportunity to win. I say that because the alternative would be that he didn't even realise the harm it would do to the sport at large. However, if he did put the interests of his club before the wider interests of the sport his position as Chairman is untenable and he should resign. The situation was then made worse when apparently, the SCB, the BSPA vice chairman and the promoters involved colluded to circumvent the rules, either by ignoring them or, amending them to allow a guest to be used in the second leg with an average above that allowed by those rules. There is no excuse for this slight of hand when other options within the rules were available to solve the problem. Why is it that the authorities do not seem to realise that their inability to draft a sensible rule book and then to apply those rules consistently and impartially is one of the major reasons why fans become disenchanted and stop attending, why the media don't take speedway seriously and why it is more difficult to attract and retain new fans. There are many problems with the sport which require money the promoters do not have but this is not one of them. Making sure that there is integrity and credibility in the way in which the sport is administered costs nothing. It requires only the will of those in charge to put aside their self interest and instead to look at the bigger picture.

After some digging, I found your source...

HAVE always refrained from getting involved with any of the Poole versus The Rest arguments on here. But some of the comments about the refereeing last night are borderline. Decisions are subjective, often a matter of opinion rather than fact. Referees will sometimes make a wrong decision. They are human. But I know Craig Ackroyd. To suggest he is either biased or, far worse, corrupt, is a step too far.

I personally find the Glasgow fans to be some of the best visiting supporters to Derwent Park, we shouldnt tar them all with the same brush much as we wouldnt like to be labelled because of the way some of our fans behave. This weekend should be a celebration of the fact both teams have made it to the playoffs and that we should see some very entertaining speedway

Here we go again, but the Referee's decision regarding the Heat 12 exclusion really is totally embarrassing for Haemorrhoid/Ackroyd (however it is spelt/pronounced). BT Sport provided sufficient camera angles for there to be absolutely no doubt that MPT was in front and was knocked off by his opponent attempting to come under him as they entered bend 3. It wasn't malicious, but the race has to be stopped and someone is responsible for that and has to be excluded. With enough camera angles and opportunities to replay the incident how on earth can MPT be at fault? Incidents like this are not even down to opinion, it is surely fact. If the Ref gets that wrong, what does it say about his decisions without the benefit of TV cameras at meetings? Apparently he was not available for interviewing as the cameras could not film that far up Matt Ford's a*se.

This thread is an embarrassment from most of you to be honest.

Why would we not blame Jakobsen? I’m sure he didn’t mean it and he wasn’t riding dirty but he has knocked one of our key riders off and injured him. An accident but his fault, compounded by the referee getting it horrendously wrong. I think the reason Poole fans are generally despised is that very few of them have enough about them to say ‘yep we got away with one there’ and win with a bit of grace. Instead let’s sling a bit of mud the other way and see if it sticks as a distraction. Very sad.

Can't blame him to be honest. The commuting from up north to Peterborough every week must take its toll, plus affecting his time working and with family. Seems like Ged is a good guy, with his heart and head in the right place.. Just hope someone can come forward to take Peterborough on as it seems a great club, and deserves some stability off track. British speedway needs good tracks like the showground too.

with what is supposed to be the showcase for British league speedway, I've got to say it was terrible, a track prepared for gate and go,, a referee who at best was incompetent and a meeting starved of any real speedway racing. Poole will probably win over the two legs but the real loser is speedway itself.

My sauce tells me that Swindon countered with an offer of Doyle, Stefan Nielsen and a £20 Southbrook Inn voucher for Lambert.

If Poole end up winning the title I think it’s safe to say 2018 has been a horrendous year for the sport in this country.

In my opinion I would much rather have seen both teams go with r/r win with your own riders or lose with your own riders and it would have stopped all of the rubbish that has been spouted on this topic.

OMG - As a new poster on here I am utterly staggered at the anti-poole jealousy and envy that gets posted on here. Utterly embarrassing ! Yes, I am a Poole fan, but first and foremost i am a speedway fan. Yes, the referee made one big blunder last night, football referees make huge rickets every single week, get over it. Matt Ford has always used the rules to his advantage, but he does not make the rules, and he has never broken the rules ! If the green light has been given for Poole to use Morris at Lynn tomorrow, at Lynn's request, then he is doing nothing wrong. Of course it is not ideal, but give the man a break, he is the most pro-active promoter in the UK who tries to provide the most attractive product he can, despite the majority of other promoters consistently year on year happy to water down our incredible sport to it's current poor state. Trust me, if every club had a Matt Ford at the helm the British speedway would be in a much healthier state !

Support dropped when moving from the then, elite league to then premier league , I wouldn't think it would help dropping down to the national league and couldn't imagine it would last out a season. Just a slow agonising death.

I find myself asking the question do we really need the play-offs? All it seems to do is generate more income for promotions while fans have to watch teams full of guests rather than riders who put their respective team top of the league. Wolverhampton were undoubtedly the best team in the league last season and similarly KL this yet injuries robbed Wolves and could be a major factor in the determination of the destination of this year's Trophy too. I detest semi and finals in 20ht individual meetings as they give riders a 2nd chance and the play-offs are the same. Time to back to old time speedway where everything is decided the first time through.

You are a dramatic little thing aren't you??

Don't be silly, Shovvy will be on here soon telling everyone that it makes Lynn stronger

The outcry over the refs performance is ringing out loud and clear on all social media platforms with some asking how he could be so wrong. As unpalatable as it is, it’s obvious why the decisions went the way they did and it’s not the first time this has happened with Ford involved. After years and years of cheating he feels bulletproof and now hardly attempts to hide his actions - unbelievable and sad in equal measures. I reckon another 10% will be knocked off the fan base with this latest fiasco and after years of this you have to ask when will it end? 10% equals around £500k a year less coming into the sport but that’s like water off a ducks back for the cheating scumbags down there who have no real love for this fabulous sport of ours. Dark days for the sport once again.

Just to be clear Poole had already booked Ellis to ride for them at KL. It was only Allitt's suggestion that KL use Adam and Poole use Morris which Poole agreed to. It was proposed to BSPA/SCB and it seemed a sensible option so special dispensation was granted. Poole have done nothing wrong. They merely agreed to another club's proposal to avoid the sport looking more stupid than it already was.

Last week he was throwing the towel in after 3 heats, until Kurtz ended Holders night, then last night lo and behold another member of the opposition knocked off, and unfairly excluded, missed important rides and now out, last season he said Swindon only won because of Injuries, 12 months later and the same situation has arisen, plus the illegal guest, blokes a Hypocrite and a complete wum.

Do you not think we are entitled to be for what went on in heat 12? Don’t get me wrong, plenty of our problems were self inflicted but that decision and MPT’s subsequent injury are an absolute hammer blow.

I’m sure it will be prepared as it has been all season which our riders like. Making it different to catch Poole out could also catch our own riders out so just maintain the status quo and hope for a bit of luck which we are going to need.

And ban the troll

What’s the cock up, Morris is ineligible to ride tomorrow, it’s against the rules. Plain and simple. if the SCB allow this they it shows them up to be complicit and not worth their existence.

I agree with your last sentence. However, with the video evidence available his decision to exclude Palm-Toft is very difficult to justify. It was perfectly clear from the front view of the incident that Jakobsen collided with him and took his leg away, causing him to fall. We are all human and all make mistakes but he had time to view the video and to make a considered decision and somehow still got it wrong. Unfortunately, the consequences had a significant effect on the final result of the meeting and possibly, the result of the play off final.

That one line explains why everyone on here rubbishes you. You are so blinded with Blue Tints, it is pointless conversing with you... What a sad world you live in !!!

Did we expect amything else than the biased crap SS has come out with earlier. Can't believe he wouldn't mention the Worrall races where he should have been excluded, no just Ellis of course. And the Palm Toft one was crazy plus it put him out of the meeting, who knows maybe Wednesday to. If you were to take the two easy exclusions the ref should have made regarding Worrall and Jakobsen the minimum the Stars would have got would have been 41pts.That would have made the 2nd leg interesting. But we have to thank the ref for being pretty crap at his job for the scoreline as it stands. Thought the final had lost the importance to SS so he said pre meeting. Told you he would be straight back on here giving it some if they won.

Excellent post.. Speedway in Britain doesn't have 'proper competitions' due to its nonsense system anyway so losing in one of the 'competitions' shouldn't be seen as any disaster.... Similar to winning any of them doesn't bring any great glory... Remember, the authorities think 'credibility' is to have two Swindon riders in opposition in a Grand Final featuring Poole and Kings Lynn... And that is because it was seen as better than the original plan. A plan devised, within the rules, by those who run the Sport.... Lets just reflect on that for a moment and be honest to ourselves.. Winning such a competition that allows such nonsense has no kudos does it really?

What a farcical end to the season , what a complete joke / laughing stock British speedway has become .

Shame Matt Ford and Middleditch didn't think that in 2010 instead of acting like they did. Boots on the other foot now so of course their reactions will be completely different.

It is really a question of what the leagues look like in 2019 and then deciding that if availability is an issue could the track host NL racing as an interim measure simply to keep it open. If that was an option could it be taken over by the supporters? Hopefully a buyer will be found but perhaps now is the time to think about plan b and c to keep the venue going. Once it is lost that may be it forever. If a buyer is found hopefully it is not at the expense of losing a track in another part of the country. Whatever happens, fingers crossed for the team and the supporters

once you miss a few weeks, you will never return, you end up following it online, tv etc, but you just do other things. Speedway simply fail to attract youngsters, and the old guard has just given up on stupid rules..doubling up killed it for me, ridiculous!

It is 50 years since i attended my first meeting and I know exactly how you feel. You seriously have to ask is there corruption and cheating in the sport and I don't just mean the cases of a rider being told to have a bad race so a tactical ride can or can't be used or to manipulate his average? The scenario of a rider appearing for two different teams in the Final would undoubtedly have led to all sorts of conspiracy theories after the final results were decided but now we are (rightly) questioning some of the decisions in last night's meeting and thus the integrity of a match official which is unfortunate. As been said a hundred, nay a thousand times before the sooner we have a FULLY independent body running rather than ruining the sport the quicker speedway will become a creditable sport once more.

Poole have done well, wiping Holder out of the semi then MPT from the final!

King's Lynn were unlikely to be facing a 16 point deficit if the referee had made the correct decision in heat 12 and they then suffered further by Palm-Toft being unable to take his last ride. They now have more problems with Palm-Toft suffering a broken hand. Howarth on his last visit to King's Lynn, in the double header, managed only 12 from 12 rides. However, he wasn't riding at reserve, which may help. The is no doubt that losing both Palm-Toft and Iversen is a terrible blow to King's Lynn's chances. I can't see either guest matching their likely scores.

As a speedway fan living in south Buckinghamshire, Peterborough is easily the track I have visited the most as a 'neutral' supporter in recent years - mainly because you're always assured of a covered seat with a decent view. So, at the risk of stating the b. obvious, I'd certainly count myself among the many who would describe themselves as 'gutted' if the track closed. On another matter, it's interesting that the attendance for the Play-off SF was low. Aren't we always told 'the fans love the play-off system'? I would love it if we went back to the proper league championship system, and I would say the same about the Premiership too. If BT want some guaranteed end-of-season fixtures to broadcast, the Semis and Final of the KO Cup would surely fit the bill.

I’d like to be positive and think that Howarth could come in and match MPT’s performance levels around Lynn but it’s difficult to see considering his form this season. I can accept losing a two legged tie to a better team, even after finishing top, but for injuries and awful refereeing to play a major part makes it a very bitter pill to swallow. Hopefully the Stars will he fired up and surprise everyone but I can see this being a tight meeting and the margin on the night being two to four points either way.

To be fair watching Lakeside for the 134th time this year with understrength teams which barely resembled Panthers was hardly going to pull in the masses. And where was the promotion, the big build ups? Barely anything in social media.

Nothing to see here. Mods please close thread to save on bandwidth.

So what was your view of the referees performance ? You always sit on the fence pontificating do you really believe it was acceptable.

Please you find my comment enjoyable, unlike some I always speak as I see and feel. Tonight is no different, Having watched a another replay of the occasion. I am amazed at what we saw... I was amazed Poole were allowed such an easy start before the Stars were able to find a decent setup for their bikes. Giving anyone 18 point start is a massive task to under take. Amazed how brilliantly the Stars clawed their way back into contention. Amazed how the Ref can get such a simple decision so wrong is beyond belief. Having looked through BSF, Tweeter, and updates, there is not one comment that backs the decision the Ref made. Yes, Like Middlo says you win some you lose some, but not at a crucial time as this. To make a wrong call of this magnitude, a decision that gift wrapped Poole a min of 4 points (could've been more) was criminal. When points are so hard to come by it is so wrong that a referee decision can have massive consequences. Up to that point the Stars were back into contention, but where we could have been going into ht12 just 6 adrift , this one decision added another 6pts to Poole total... We had all the upheaval about guests before the start of the meeting, but not a word was mentioned of the referee, but he afforded Poole more points than either guests attained.... I was also amazed at Dale's attitude , last week he wanted to take on the world, to show passion to his riders, yet when a situation needed that passion he simple accepted the Refs decision. When the cameras interviewed him, he hadn't looked at the tele, he merely said it was a close call. Had that been Middlo he would be going spare and the ref would have no doubts about how they felt.. It seems we are the nice team who always gets trodden on.. Amazed too at heat 13 when the Ref excluded Ellis. This was a closer call that couldn't be seen with just the naked eye. Both Harris and Ellis moved, but the Ref immediately blamed it on the Lynn rider. The BT sport could have been more helpful by slowing the replay down. I inched the replay through and it clearly shows, although Ellis moved first, it was HARRIS who hits the tapes. I agree, it would have been difficult split them, but why not penalise both riders when clearly both were at fault... This was another decision that guaranteed Poole points. It wasn't Poole team who stemmed the tide of the Stairs revival, it was the one sided decisions from the Referee. The tie now is all but been decided. only a miracle can save the gallant Stars . Those smug Poole fans will go on about how good they were and add another title to their long list. but we all know how lucky they always were... Of those 16 point they have, the Ref can be thanked for most of them. and that is where the real shame is. A meeting ruined by one individual...

Only able to watch the meeting on TV. Referee got the MPT decision totally wrong. No intent from Jakobsen, he just picked up grip and it shot him forward. Absurd decision. Poole have got a great chance now. However, dont start counting the chickens. Just remember Workington v Edinburgh!

So where does Lambert live??.....Clue:- Begins with an N.

Keep taking the tablets

If both Danes are fit for Wednesday then don't write KL off. 16 is a lot, 12 would be catchable. Need to be sharp from the start. At least whole speedway world will keep fingers crossed for Stars now, after such a big help Pirates had from referee.

Bring them in on a 3.00, it’s the only objective way, but give the assessed average riders an average after 4 meetings in ALL competitions! So they’re not hitting massive scores at reserve for a third of the season.

It's been confirmed that the ref did indeed have tv replays. OMG makes it even worse