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Let me say what i do know about Laurence Rogers, Firstly I have no idea if he owes anyone any money or not, he is a Speedway Fan above all else, he lives, eats, sleeps, breathes Speedway and has done for many years, yes its true that many of his Speedway projects have fallen by the wayside Mildenhall, Newport, to name a few and he has been involved with other Teams such as Coventry and more recently Plymouth, then there was the young American touring Teams put together by Steve Evans and others. Laurence is an ordinary working guy just like you and I who has done his best to try to keep these teams going, yes primarily with other peoples money but had he not tried then the majority of these Teams would have closed down sooner rather than later, Its surely better to have tried and failed then to have not tried at all, he is always willing to give young riders help and assistance to get on in the sport, The other thing that I know about Laurence is that if I contacted him wanted some help with something to do with Speedway he would most likely never say no and that maybe that is his biggest failing if it can be called that. I agree he is probably not the finest team manager that there ever was but thats possibly more to do with budget restrictions than anything else. My final word, It would probably have been easier for Laurence to walk away from Birmingham speedway and let it be consigned to the history books than to have the hassle and ingratitude of some by trying to keep speedway in Birmingham, but NO speedway is in his blood just like you and I, agreed maybe its not his money but no-one forces these people to put money into clubs that are struggling to survive, one thing is for sure Speedway will be the poorer when he finally decides enough is enough.

What a load off sh*te it’s the only description I can use for this pile of mince.

Think you will discover the Poole promotion are by the proverbial mile the best and most successful in the sport. I believe the Poole promotion spent many, many hours costing a small fortune managing to bring him to the U.K., against the wishes of the UKIP govt we currently have in power. They managed to get the lad a 2 year visa, which I have heard cost the club financially. End of the day the lads head has been turned by the big bucks offered by Glasgow. A shame. Glasgow trying to buy the league. Only chance they really have. But we all know what happens to clubs who spend a fortune on riders. Seems at the moment it’s sod what it costs, I want a title.

Nice to read some posts that are not just about money. We are not all blessed or lucky enough to have earned a fortune of cash to invest into something but, some people can only invest their time. Time isn't always cheap and when given free isn't always noticed.

You have absolutely no clue what Glasgow pay their riders or a clue what's in his contract. Bad enough get this rubbishe from clubs already in championship but when you're getting from Poole fans? Just take the bitter pill that is your own medicine n realise you're not the be all and end all of British speedway

I'd rather my team DID accommodate Basso, so I could watch him and be entertained, rather than watching more R/R So he has to base his whole career based on what Matt Ford wants him to do? And if not Matt will spit his dummy out? I don't know much about the Fords, but they seem to expect the whole of the speedway world to revolve around them? And if not they spit their dummy out and slate a young lad publicly? How petty and embarrassing...

My god when I predicted a meltdown from poole I wasn't predicting it from the promotion

Any outsider reading Poole’s statement on Basso would think that there was a degree of loyalty within the sport. Loyalty should be a two way street. In speedway, riders can be signed up and moved on within weeks if they don’t hit the ground running. Nobody is more ruthless in doing this than Poole. Money talks, get used to it.

Interesting statement released by Poole. Happy to work around his danish. Commitments but head was turned. I do wonder what by. £££ Won’t be the first or last rider to be poached. https://www.poole-speedway.com/news/view/11-12-2021-PIRATES-FUME-AS-BASSO-LEAVES?fbclid=IwAR07RsZ-6cREDiMtlem9OdnTZAIJQyqIDVKvRjr477SNPuPY4uWSdzMCt0s

Without doubt the best web address ever!!!

He’s pretty much saved Birmingham Speedway. That’ll look good on anyones CV. Personally for doing that he deserves freedom of the City.

If our friend Lord Ford has been screwed over then bloody good job, he's done it enough to others in the past. FWIW the press release sounds like a toys-out-of-the-pram load of cobblers to appease the regulars, although I expect we'll never know the truth.

Exactly and that is what they did in 2021. They got rid of Keleher and as Mr Shovlar has said spent big to get in Basso. As I've said in another post the Ford's reaction is purely to get a story in the local press and to get the pirates sheep, sorry fans, to support them, and get angry with Glasgow rather than with them. They must be lining up another purchase of a chateau

Will you be changing your user name to BassoontoGlasgow?

so there only going to run 4 wednesdays all season to accommodate him no chance

I hope this is how Glasgow complete their team (just to wind up Poole) Glasgow 2022? Steve Worrall 9.05 Richard Lawson 8.29 Tom Brennan 5.88 Ben Basso 5.00 Danyon Hume 4.88 Stefan Nielsen 4.67 Connor Bailey 4.04 Total 41.81

But I don't understand. In speedway riders sign year long contracts or short term contracts 99% of the time. So Benjamin's contract was up with Poole, why is it then any of Poole's business where he plans on riding next season. Beyond "Are you riding for us next year, these are our terms" and a yes no answer... Basso doesn't owe Poole anything really? And that's the way the Ford's seem to see it? But why? Nail on the head. Jealousy... I wish we would sign a rider like that, But I'm not jealous about it, I'm excited about the prospect of seeing Ben at Newcastle racing for the away side...

Brilliant post. Without the likes of Laurence and Neil Vatcher and others, there would be no speedway. The closures of clubs is down to circumstances not Laurence who has for the main part, been a manager. To blame Laurence is like blaming Rosco for the closure of Coventry and Swindon or Lee Kilby for his part at Birmingham, Swindon and Eastbourne.

Interesting that Poole claim they would race on different nights to accommodate Ben yet they left the Premier League because they said that only Wednesday night would work for them financially. So basically they've adopted an approach used by politicians for some time, 'deflect the blame onto someone else whilst also getting your name in the papers' . And well done to Blobby for getting them even more publicity.

Do you not count as an asset if you race 12 official meetings for a club (or was that back in the day)? He raced 9 home meetings (Redcar, Plymouth, Glasgow, Birmingham and Newcastle in the league, Leicester in the KOC and Play Offs, Edinburgh in the KOC and Glasgow in the Play Offs). He raced 6 away meetings (Edinburgh, Redcar and Scunny in the league, Glasgow in the Play Offs, also Edinburgh in the KOC and Leicester in the Play Offs). Poole used R/R for him at Birmingham (League) and Leicester (KOC). He has therefore been listed in the Poole team for 9 league meetings (5H 4A), 4 KOC (2H 2A) and 4 Play Off meetings (2H 2A). I would think that being listed for a team 17 times would make you an asset (some teams only had 22 matches all season).

Pleased we don’t have to put up with shovlars sh*te over on the premiership part of the forum anymore, what a total moron

To be honest don’t think anyone cares what they have put on twatter except Poole fans.

Probably best as I fail to see what we do concerns you anyway. Personally I couldn’t care less what your lot do.

How much did we pay then you seem to know. Were does this scandal rank on your scandalometer then Blobby. Anytime we sign someone it’s a scandal in your eyes you should change your username to Hilda Ogden it would fit your posting profile better.

This transfer raises a lot of questions regarding who is the visa holder. With the visa, the applicant is stated and he or their company must promise lodgings and financial guarantee's to the said rider. If Benjamin is being transferred to Glasgow, have they applied for a new visa to replace the Poole visa, as I can't see Poole carrying on with the visa commitments, when he is not riding for them and is therefore not their responsibility.

If you’d paid all that money to get his visa sorted for a coupe of seasons for him then to turn around a go elsewhere 6 months in yous be pretty miffed as well.

The voice of reason from the east. Thank goodness the Monarchs have you to balance Blobby’s observations

I would think that if they were that annoyed they would have said something earlier to slate Basso & Glasgow if it was "known" after the play offs that he had been tapped up.

Bluster to appease fans all that is. Completely contradicting their "we must ride on Wednesday" preaching from 2019.

Sounds to me reading that he was lured by the offer of much more money. He will soon discover that Glasgow are a much smaller club than Poole with a much smaller and quieter fanbase. It won’t be the same for him at all, though he might leave every meeting with more money going into his bank account. If it’s just money that he is interested in, so be it. He was very popular at Poole last season. Don’t think a similar reception will be forthcoming to him when he returns in 2022.

An Ully sized gap I'd imagine?

Link for smart TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNRPmKsUbOc

Didn't do MPT or TJ any harm slumming it in a six berth caravan in the pits. Only illegal dinghy people get 4 star hotel, free board, phones and pocket money!

THG might know? However he has been very quiet on this thread for quite some time...........

Edwards is a top talent. Was unlucky to get released from both Eastbourne and Plymout last season. Another rider we were hoping to have back at Armadale.

For all we know agreement has been made between the two promotions , which is possible as they seem to get on behind the scenes.

This is just a thought, could a decent caravan or site hut be placed on site for 24-7 security, could be manned in a rota by the Workington faithful? Yes I have in a previous life lived in a caravan as speedway stadium security.

The reduction is 2.5% but the greensheet averages on the bspa site are not the final ones, they still have to take out eastbourne matches, all promotions have the official gsa, we are just left in the dark

There will be some surprises (pleasant), in the second string and reserve departments.

It's a pity there are no security cameras in place, so as to catch these evil bastards.

Leszno - they have a big Stadium - Czestochowa as well

I’m not sure about him winning anything but, what I do know is just about every track he’s ever been involved in, no longer exists !!

Basso is the real deal, I don't expect any disappointment from Glasgow fans

and west side is a musical . northside is a fart away from derwent park ,as the wind blows lol

Always going to Glasgow. I said this to the Glasgow fans in the bar after the playoff final meeting. No good having a rider in the 1-7 who is missing more than available. Poole will still have a great team who will be one of the favourites for the title. Always have had. Always will do.

To be fair he was a major reason the pirates won the playoffs so he was worth the trouble after the farce with smetana imo.

Sorry Jenga all jam eaters live Whitehaven end marra !!

It is in the SS that it will be Tuesdays & some weekends although I also read a while ago that an U24 rider in an Ekstraliga team can not ride the same day for an U24 team.

Well now we are down the rabbit hole what the hell and in no particular order how about 1. The Workington Pikeys Emblem a large predatory fish a Halberd a Spear or Spike... 2. The Workington Travellers Emblem a Vanna and Vardo or a VW Caravanett 3. The Workington Nomads. Emblem a Carmel and an Ornate Caravan or a man in a Shemagh 4. The Workington Wanderers Emblem a Nomad or a bloke in a hi-vis jacket laying tarmac 5. The Workington Legionaires Emblem a Roman Legonaire Plumed Helmet or a Romany in a racing Sulky 6. The Workington Bohemiams Emblem a beatnik a flower child or a hippie... 7. The Workington Vagrants Emblem a parifin lamp an old ragamufin knotted hanky on a pole or a portrait of Windbush... 8. The Workington Tinkers Emblem a Spanner a mechanic or pots and pans... 9. The Workington Wayfarers A sailor a backpacker a pair of hiking boots.. 10. The Workington Rovers Emblem a Lakeland Terrier Border Terrier a Patterdale Terrier or a Border Reaver... Am getting a head ache now but a think you get the theme... Keep on smiling... it's nearly Christmas... Regards THJ

Surely at some point, it would actually be easier to build a basic stadium and then either let it go bust naturally, or be forced out of business by the noise complaints from the neighbours. How much is the current charade costing...?