Leaderboard

"We're all doomed Cap'n Mainwaring, we're all doomed'!! FFS people get a grip!!

The Sheffield promotion stated on Thursday that will not sign any rider who has a contract to ride in Poland, so none of them will be riding for us Would be good if the only facility for a rider missing a meeting in England was a NL guest as well

I'm sorry to say if I was james I would be looking else where next season after he was the scapegoat for under performing riders last time around if he had been an aussie he may have keep his place just my opinion

That’s because he is gash. If you can’t get signed up in either of your home leagues - that speaks volumes (although probably wants too much dosh for his current abilities!

What sort of an attitude is that?

Probably the most sensible post you've ever made :-)

Good luck to any rider who wants to ride in Poland, but its time for our BSPA to stand firm and rule that no facility will be given when the inevitable fixture clash comes along. For most riders Poland will always be first choice but there`s a number of riders who find out the hard way that its not always sweetness and light.

You can not race against yourself. It is 6 other teams, twice!

Not saying there won't be accusations of manipulation but what would have been your solution to a five team top league then?

It is what it is. I think Buster has saved the Prem as well as keeping one club going, and maybe 2( Don't know what was going on at Ippo) . I'm pretty sure he has done it in the interest of the sport. I suspect there is a buy back clause in there somewhere. No doubt Buster will have a wage limit, but he said Chris will carry on so I don't think theres a worry of fixing meetings, if that's your worry. Buster wouldn't want that and Chris would never agree, and i'm sure he can't wait to get one over the Stars. Looking forward to it.

Good to see your still full of shyte too

If the NL turns into a glorified SDL who is going to pay to watch it. Last season most clubs were charging £13, which was too much for the product on offer. For those clubs left in a watered down NL, it's going to be hard to sell their product to Joe Public.

2 out of 7 not bad guess for a half wit

It is just plain wrong that two or more clubs in the same league are under the influence of the same person/company/promoters. No other self respecting sport allows this and casts massive doubt on the integrity of speedway, the independence of teams and indeed its long term survival. Yes it would be good to have an overall supremo - but that person must have no ties to an individual club/team/league.

If two of the other clubs(or maybe even just one) had pulled out, the Premiership would have folded no matter what Chapman did. It isn't just down to him. However, it is down to him buying into Peterborough & Ipswich that the Premiership is able to continue in 2019. It is typical of the attitude of some members of this forum that a man saving not just a team but an entire league can be twisted into something suitable for negative comment. Its little wonder that the forum itself is often regarded as utterly without credibility.

For what it’s worth I don’t believe Cook and a few others should be anywhere near the Championship, There needs to be a definitive gap between the top two leagues and Cook and some others are too good and too expensive for the Championship. i can’t see the entertainment value in some riders crossing the finishing line when others are entering the third bend

As Chairperson of the King's Lynn Stars Supporters Club, this idea coming from the BSPA Conference is quite an interesting one. Surely it will be a chance for the fans to bring all their ideas and gripes to the BSPA officially? We certainly hope to have some input and if so will be encouraging all Lynn fans to have a voice. Your thoughts? Particularly the young fans on here?

Starting the season with 7 teams, can we really have 4 teams qualifying for the play-offs? More teams qualify than don't?! Some sporting credibility could be maintained if only the top 3 qualify, with the team finishing top going straight into the final.

Well apparently Morris is owed £28000 and Hancock I think was said to be £300 000 it's a joke. Surely common sense says ride in England for two clubs and get paid I have no sympathy for any rider riding for a promise in this day and age when they know the likelihood of getting no money.

You're quite right but the Witches and Panthers have always been the understudies to the Stars so no need to change things now

I agree Aces51, Team Speedway will carry on for a good time yet... It sadly will need to be the cobbled together variety rather than 'proper teams' but maybe changes will be made to sort this.. The possible light at the end of the enormous tunnel is that there does seem to be a recognition that sharing riders between leagues simply adds too much pressure to the fixture list, and generates guest riders, which do nothing to aid the sports standing in the wider sporting fan base, so steps seem to have been taken.. They also have recognised the need to have aspirational improvements so making the three leagues clearly of differing levels can only be a positive thing... The Sport has effectively tried to kill itself by self administrating a 1000 cuts, so finding plasters to stem the flow of blood for all of them in one go won't be achievable.. Tentatively, it does look like they may actually have some ideas on how to undo some of the self inflicted nonsense that has been allowed to pass itself off, for far too long, as a 'proper team sport'.. A long, long way to go but let's hope it works... It seems to be a long term plan at least, which is more than we have had for some time,..

Are you sure about that ds? Think that's worrying a few of us witches fans tbh, we haven't forgotten mildenhall way back. I know we haven't got many, but we've got a jewel in drew tbh.

Its time to tell these 2nd raters where to go,if they are going to miss UK fixtures for the odd meeting Poland let them sit in the house waiting for the Polish telephone call.

Talking of Split Waterman, I was talking to Ove Fundin about him at the Norwich WSRA lunch a couple of weeks ago. He said he visited him in Spain a little while ago and he was in good health and reasonably active still.

Amalgamation.

Do not take any notice of him,he is just wasting eveyones time. I have an email from KK that says it is Eagles and Brum. Just disappointed that Kent will be left in a poor NL,which will be no better than SDL.

Matej could be a steal on his average. I'd take Alfie over Ben, but doubt Alfie will be heading north. Matty W should now be a certain starter for us next season, with the average now just 38. It also might play in a return for Carl W. I still say Tero and Ash are a must for 2019.

Yes, surely that implies that it is Eastbourne going up? However WalterPlinge is saying that it is definitely Birmingham and Kent so I was wondering how he knew this?

No it would be simple to pool all the semi-final & final income & divide on a % basis between the 3 teams. 4 in the p/offs from a 7 team league is nonsense.

There will not be any major changes to track prep anywhere unless there are major changes to riders' machinery.

The 2 TBA teams are heavily rumoured to be Birmingham and Eastbourne

its the bspa/scb ? way of thought ! lower the points limit so most , if not all of the top average guys are forced into the top league only . it looks like the best way to do it . i agree with it and we, the fans still get entertained . just like the 70,s ! i just wonder who will be the first to sign a big s hitter and ruin it for everyone . cookie back @ Glasgow and having a near 12.00 average . thats entertainment , NOT . there HAS to be a gulf between the premier and championship . lets get back to the future . LETS MAKE SPEEDWAY WORK , WHATEVER TEAM YOU SUPPOT

No team spirit is important. Just cant see why Poole would want Harris back apart from the morale he brings to other riders................it wont be for his scoring and he pretty much went missing in the play off finals didnt even win a race over the two legs I get what he brings to a team but surely Poole should look forward not backwards

Really want to see NBJ back at Berwick again next season but with the club up for sale and his tremendous record as a guest at Leicester it would be a bit silly of him to not make the move, especially as he now has David Howe as a full time mechanic/advisor who lives local to Leicester as well.

Until there is any action that suggests otherwise I'm happy to take the positives from the situation We have all 3 teams in the same league and at the current highest level - 2019 could be a great year and one to remember for all the right reasons

Its a bit of fun and a major feat to build a half decent team to 38 points. I could have included Tai in my effort doesn't mean he is signing. So chill out and lets see who signs for who.

I think its understandable for fans of all 3 clubs to have some reservations about the situation but until any actions prove otherwise then I am happy to take the positives for all parties The league structure has been stabilised The Witches are in the league that in 2019 best suits them Peterboroughs future is extended Kings Lynn fans get to feel all superior for a while (temporarily of course )

Me too. I wouldnt be if Leicester were still in the PL but CL with more teams has renewed my enthusiasm for 2019.

Gary doesnt tell rubbish, he says it as it is. If he did give Jack a boll--cking then it would have been early days, but he's had no problem with him last season. And i would believe Gary.

Thanks for doing my job

nice mention on Look North tonight.

except rider that are on the more desirable lower averages know they will be in demand and want more money ... maybe

Holder has been the most entertaining rider since buzz round showground sheer box office the pair of them there the kind of riders what get the crowds in

Not true at all. May had to threaten him with the sack.

Does that mean that gary may got a better relationship with his riders ?

Part of my point here is that there are some who can't wait to stick the boot in, no matter what. If Peterborough had closed and the Premiership disbanded they would have taken great delight in blaming Chapman for that. I don't think its just the clubs that owe him a debt, its speedway as a whole. He has been much maligned over the past year or so and some it was fully justified, but I really don't see how anyone connected with the sport can give him anything but praise and credit where this is concerned - money where his mouth is comes very much to mind. As to integrity, I think speedway (again as a whole) lost that some time ago.

Well Buster will have to wait at least another year before he gets his hands on Poole! As for a Bernie Ecclestone/Barry Hearn character, can somebody tell me what team sports either of these or similar have taken on and made more successful? Its one thing to promote individuals in sports that are indoors and under cover in modern fit-for-purpose venues, giving the participants gladitorial personas and big fanfares!! What would be in it for such an entrepreneur to take on speedway?

42 and leave it at that for 2 seasons for a bit of continuity, sensible limit that should keep a decent level of riders, but allowing the youngsters to develop. Won't happen though, made the same post over the last few seasons, so no dought it'll dilute again to 36 points.

If Buster hadn't stepped in, what would there be.... a 5 team top league and possibly 2 more lost clubs. Its far from ideal but better than the alternative.

some folks have been calling for a single person to be in charge: its just not Barry Hearn