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Sorry to disagree Steve but there were three viable sites and one deffinite front runner at Seaton Burn and with support from the Local Authouity however ya man objected to one of the people who was prepared to put money in and his huberous got the better of him (and just for Mala... Huberous means arrogance and excessive pride) Pride comes before a fall and he was offered all the help and support he could have wanted but Billy Big Balls wanted to do it all himself... so now he's reaping the rewards... Two humpings in following weekends how embarrassing is that and Leicester put Edwards in at the end to give them a chance otherwise it would have been 26 - 64. Furthermore riders don't want to come to Newcastle because they talk to each other and there is an impression that they don't get paid on time and also that the club isn't on a firm footing and is continually on the brink of collapse with the ramifications of that being they "don't get paid" if the clud goes pop and I know that's not ya man's fault "per se" but he ain't doing anything much to change perceptions... Oh and come back George Congreve son because regardless of what you were told it's definitely not your fault bonny lad... All very sad... Regards THJ

This coming Saturday... mid summer's night, plum night in the Speedway calendar, weather likely to be fine, 2 matches on in Britain both at NDL level, Leicester & Berwick. Absolutely pathetic from all British Speedway so called promoters!

You should know by now that certain Promotions and BSPA only look after themselves.GB speedway is going down the tubes just to suit the riders and not the fans and nothing will change anytime soon.IMO. In a sport with no credibility regarding structure how do they expect fan base to improve.Answers to the Chairman,see if you get a response.

Really? So when have this management or promotion been considered top dogs then considering we have only won a few matches in a season and a half? It always makes me laugh this attitude that for some reason anyone involved in speedway is doing supporters a favour; unlike any other sport. Supporters are entitled to their own opinions, it’s what makes sport so great. Let’s not forget that speedway is no different and anyone is entitled to have their views on teams, riders or how the team is set up. Yes the promotion don’t make money and some work on a voluntary basis to help the club and good on them for doing that but let’s not forget that is their own choice to do so. If you are involved in sport at any level you will get people questioning decisions ect. Even as a junior football coach at under 7s you get questions and challenged by parents on line ups and tactics. So why should speedway be any different? The RR one for today is certainly a strange one but at the end of the day it is the managers call.

My opinion of the young Kiwi was about on the money. But to take him out at this stage & replace him with Jack Smith who has proved time & again that the Championship is beyond him. I think if that was my option I'd stick with Congreve, at least you still have hope that he can improve.

Poor signing and worse than Congreve.

Obvious.. But not to some it would appear.. When you can pick and choose your leagues to compete in then it seems crackers to not have some kind of quality control by those in charge.. When teams decide that the pinnacle of the sport in the UK isnt worth competing for, and for them they feel better off competing in a lower league, then it speaks volumes as to the low amount of merit which winning any league has in their eyes.. Therefore, at least make every league competitive... And if that is by some contrived system which allows a fair spread of HL talent across every team then so be it.. We have contrived teams happen virtually every night so it's not as if it would be a unique situation for the sport.. No surprise Newcastle are uncompetitive given everyone said at the start that they were uncompetitive... A hard task for the Promoters trying to sell the least competitive team in the least competitive league I would suspect... And that is both home and away promoters. With many away teams having the double whammy of scoring big away and suffering lower crowds when poor teams visit.. But... It isnt like this wasnt pointed out well before a wheel was turned is it?

Whilst I think that is probably true the point is, if the authorities want an evenly matched league or even just want to maintain then number of teams in the league, then they needed to give each of the 11 teams the opportunity to sign competitive teams. By allowing two teams to sign half of the league number 1 heat leaders that was never going to happen. We just don't know how much money Rob Grant was offering heat leaders during the winter but given 2021 it was never going to be anyones first choice. Regardless of the standard of teams it just makes no business sense to have a scarce resource able to dictate terms in the pursuit of 'sporting greatness' or whatever winning the CL gives you. From everyones perspective, apart from the riders, it makes entire sense to manufacture supply over demand as then everyone can benefit from the resulting more realistic terms.

lets hope they see the season out, they must be losing £££. I feel for them, its a canny stadium which, if it wasn't operating, people would be clamouring for it to open. TBH its time for the league to pull together and somehow make sure the talent is shared - Poole can't play Glasgow or Leicester every week

Good to have two GB riders who now go into these meetings being feared by opponents rather than "hoping they can do well", which has been the case for too long in this country when riders reached this level.. They both now seem very comfortable at the "top table" suggesting they both truly now believe that they are "naturally" in their rightful position... Which can only bring further confidence and reward...

Glasgow, as is the way of the Faceena brothers paid top wack for the best Streaming Production available to them at realistic costs. Clearly it must not have made them any money and why should any Club lose money to stream speedway to people who lets be honest are watching on TV as it's easier to do that then get off their backsides and go and watch it live. There will always be genuine and worthy exceptions and away support for whom its more practical, no point denying that but surely it has to be both profitable and sustainable but also not be detrimental to reducing/eroding attendence for the Live version any more. A number of Clubs are doing good streaming but unless in the final analysis it makes them some net profit why would you sell a product for 12 quid that probably 2-3 people watch for one subscription of 12 quid; when those 2-3 people could be spending £50-£60 to come in and another £20-£30 on food and drink and possibly merchandise. They would have to buy probably 5-6 streams to generate the possible income from ONE actual visit. It's a sad fact that too many of us, and as a collective it's a trait in Speedway seem to expect hard working Promotions to just keep on subsidising the Team for them to turn up as and when they feel like it. Its not nor has it been for a few decades a sustainable business model.

(My) press release: Newcastle v Leicester (today) The Diamonds will take on the top of the table Leicester Lions at 4.00pm, don’t miss this one, get there early to avoid the disappointment of being turned away. News of both teams to be announced prior to heat 1. ……well it’s better than anything I’ve seen on the club’s website or twitter page!

Also like a football manager and player has to speak to the media after a match I think ( unless you have 2 on the trot ) a rider who wins a race should be made to take a victory lap so the fans can show their appreciation

Least Congreve could stay on for 4 laps at Brough and I would of kept Congreve over Smith any day.

No buddy I don't unfortunately... I think all that goodwill has been lost and the momentum that was gained out of the adversity that was last season has totally gone down the pan... Grant should have rode that wave of support instead of trying to do the King Canute routine and hold back the tide... I still think he is the best man to run the club and one of the few who could make it pay... or at least make a profit where all else failed... he just needs his "passion" reined in a bit and channelled into the right direction... However he wants to do it his way and made that quite clear... (like a spoilt kid who is running the place into the ground just like the previous man who he so despises) therefore he needs to get on with it and good luck to him... it will either sink or swim but I dont think it is a lost cause yet... but is heading that way fast... Regards THJ

Well that was embarrassing!! Been going 39 years and can’t remember ever seeing us lose by over 60 points at home until the Poole result last season, but now it’s twice in 2 weeks. Maybe they need someone to advise them because anyone who thought bringing in poor Jack Smith in was a good idea is so bad it’s ridiculous. Yes we needed riders but if could not find a rider in this country, we had to try unknown Dane, swede or whoever to at least get wrighty back to reserve which makes us stronger all round. I totally agree about we need to find new track, Rob wanted that at the start but apparently now doesn’t, so we carry on at brough where no rider wants to ride apparently and are stuck to the same race night. Onto the Poole match we go…. All you want to see is a bit of fight and that was a disgrace tonight!

Is Palin going to need to leave EWR if he is to improve? Should be doing better than that imo. In danger of becoming a one track pony

So that proves my point. Even though Newcastle offered more money to heat leaders than Poole, who have 3 number 1's, they still choose to ride for less money because they were all able to obtain team places and presumably preferred the security of an established track or didn't like home matches on Sunday's or the track. However, had each team been restricted to 1 rider over 8 points then one of those riders would surely have signed for Newcastle on those better terms. Now Poole would still have signed the best team because they'd have signed the best under 8 point riders. That's entirely fair as they're a better run more knowledgeable club but at least all 11 teams would have had the opportunity to have at least one competitive rider in heats 13 and 15. The fact that Rob Grant had offered these heat leaders terms would suggest he realised that the team needed a number one so has he picked a poor team or has he just picked up the pieces of what was left over. Still nobody can come up with the name of a feasible number 1 rider he should have signed. I'm not here to defend Rob Grant as I do believe he's completely out of his depth and has been 'ill advised' and regardless of availability of heat leaders the team/club is a shambles. But the point remains. If the BSPL want an attractive league which retains all of its members then they needed to ensure each team could track a competitive team. They've failed miserably in that and I suspect will have 10 teams in their league next season. Maybe that's what they wanted? In which case job probably done.

Rob Grant has the best of intentions and put his money where his mouth was, unlike most people on here. Unfortunately for Newcastle supporters he saved the club from extinction but doesn't have the knowledge or the skillset in how to run a speedway business

This is my point, same people on criticising this decision would be on saying it's ridiculous calling it off based on a forecast. You can't win.

I'm guessing that riding order means Newcastle have read comments by fans on the forum / Facebook & decided to use r/r for Starke & not Wethers?

he' going to be the next Jack Smith, always the one with promise and potential but basicaly still where he was 3-4 years ago. A good NDL rider who can score a few ponts as a CL reserve. May be a focus on improving in to a CL second string instead of wasting time and money in Poland whould be good advice?

You answered your own question there Biffa... lol... Win the Euro Lottery and offer the stadium owners around £4.5 million quid and you will be sorted... Regards THJ

Would you contact him to extend and olive branch and work together to put it right?

The track staff at Glasgow are the best in the country. They knew what their track needed despite pressure from riders, officials and spectators. It needed time to dry out and then graded. It was perfect come five pm. You have days like this in Scotland with the weather. To those that left you missed a good meeting. Speedways biggest enemy is the weather. Hats off to the riders who in nearly all cases were patient and got on with it. The referee deserves credit for he was calm during the whole proceedings. Everyone I have mentioned deserves credit where it due. Well done!

Track staff deserve every praise , at three o clock there looked no chance of this going ahead. It turned out to be an entertaining meeting despite the scoreline . Ben Basso was brilliant , though I think him and Ostergaard should be split up . Both riding the same line and getting in each others way , could end in tears one of these weeks

On the plus side had a good crac with " bobby beaton" who was in the crowd wonder if he still has a bike

Woffy might be a legend in Wrocław,but he is turning in some pretty poor performances.Good meeting though Lublin deserved the draw.Kubera is still improving and could be a GP man one day.

It’s to do with the team being poor……pure and simple

There were places mentioned and ideas at the talk in when thought we were closing but Rob didn’t want to move from brough.

Was just watching on BSN and 4 of the riders giving up at first bend, even when leading. Had to switch it off after 9 heats as embarrassing to watch, such inept display by riders getting paid to supposedly entertain the paying crowd. Do the guests get paid for points or just appearance fee, maybe that explains lack of interest from both of them?

if it was easy to sign riders now, gary may and the plymouth promotion would have done it

Pretty irrelevant as R/R for him here managed 4 points. Not exactly fanciful thinking that he might have at least managed that although of course we’ll never know. Matters not anyway. Only thing that matters and counts, are points on the board and we took another three

I wonder who you mean?

Jack Smith ,enough said.

Yeah, I can believe that! No matter what people say on here, Poole never pay over the top for riders. Though I think percentage of silverware in the past and the sponsorship and being paid on time helps. There is a YT video of an interview with Matt Ford saying along the lines of, he makes sure he never owes anyone any money even if that means he doesn't get much himself. Anyway I really hope Newcastle can make it to at least the end of the season and beyond as well.

Shouldn't have signed a quarter of the leagues top 12 riders then. You reap what you sow. Tbf the rules allowed it so why wouldn't they. It's such a shambles we're now saying that the winners lose out. Crazy but entirely believable.

Thing is, with the quality of riders competing, the regional championships (Southern Riders, Midland Riders etc) actually MEANT something - even the qualifying rounds. Hell, with three teams, the London Riders Championship even meant something! As I keep saying, the variety of meetings kept everything "fresh". We started the season with the Metropolitan Gold Cup before we got into league action. Then we had the KOC. At Plough Lane, we had the Daily Express Sping Classic, the Internationale, and the Laurels - plus odd ones like the "Levi's for Feet". We had a couple of 4TT, including the Inter-League which was run over four legs. Often there was a best pairs during the season, and the crowning glory was being awarded a Test Match! There as ALWAYS something different, and ALWAYS something to look forward to.

Peter Craven Memorial at BV at the start of the year on a Monday night in March was a near sell out... So it can be done

I have no idea how you spread the talent. Only way I think of is reducing the points allowance in the championship teams so some teams only ride with 2 heat leaders which frees one up for other teams. It would encourage more teams to use younger British talent at the tail end.

You can't win either way. That's speedway for you ! Couldn't make it up.

No, I have no interest in being a team manager. However, I'd make sure I gave myself every possible advantage and cover every base if I did.

It's as simple as this, it wasn't making money therefore wasn't viable to continue. Those smart folk with all the answers go tell the facenna's today and volunteer your services

RASMUS JENSEN Q&A We have former Workington rider, and famous 2018 treble winner, Rasmus Jensen on the show next week. If anyone wants to add a question for the Dane to answer please don't hesitate to leave one below Listen to our previous episodes here: https://anchor.fm/roundtheboardspodcast

Plymouth deserved a point last night . They showed alot of teams how to attack the track and you will get results. They will up there challenging for the title based from what I saw last night.

Wouldn't take much doing. His pre match team talk is just simply " Go out & enjoy yourselves" No motivation whatsoever.

The blindingly obvious has been the case for the past few years. The Sport can't any longer support 3 tiers. There has to be a realisation and realignment. A top tier of 10 Clubs and a second tier of 10-12 Clubs. The top tier with all available current PL and CL riders up to current second string CL level. A second tier that would be say 1 x current CL heat Leader then rest of CL teams and incorporate NDL. The second tier may need to incorporate something left field like a dedicated youth race until numbers filter through. Build a direct progression Youth to CL to PL (CL becomes developmental) Any Club with track / training time availability e.g no strict curfew to run organised Northern / Southern style junior racing as second half. Time too to build solidity by saying any new / returning team should have to start in second tier to prove their sustainability and that the older "double up PL/PL generation" not allowed to double down any more. It may shorten some careers but the long term gain would outweigh this surely in building a system of progression rather than the current decay and stagnation.

Plenty team managers in the stand.

That's twice you've insinuated Glasgow have a red cross it's WHITE. Should have gone to Specsavers.

sad news for workington fans long time fan and helper garry sloan has passed away rip porky well known around a few tracks from his days on the spanners