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Who are the idiots still fighting for a Premiership? Lemon, Chapman and Dickson? It's done, all over Get on with one league and adapting the race format. Get rid of the nonsense of riders riding for multiple clubs, race on a night of the clubs choosing and start again. The current model is finished.

Then eventually the whole thing will go broke so the choices are Overpay and go broke Pay what you can afford and reset the whole sport on a semi professional basis if that what it takes. It might not work but it's much better than going skint

I am often amazed by those business who ignore, and often ridicule, their most important asset - their paying customers!

Any chance you can explain to me your end game with your endless posting about how crap in your eyes one big league would be? Every time we go back and forth you agree with me that big changes are needed, you’ve even agreed with me that Ipswich don’t do everything right and that the top league isn’t sustainable as it is? We know you have disdain for the championship and the quality of it and of course Poole and Glasgow for not bowing down to Chris Louis and moving up a league. But I really don’t get your end game other than to act entitled and make on that you are cleverer than everyone else for thinking you’ve got the future of the sport sussed out?

If there is no Premiership I won't be purchasing a BSN Championship pass No way am I funding the clubs (indirectly - no blame to BSN) partly responsible for its downfall should it happen

Just been listening to Talksport and 'Arry was on (for a change!).... Very disappointing... He spent his whole time on there discussing Spurs and Thomas Frank, with the end of his conversation mentioning the sad passing of Billy Bonds.... I thought he may have at least mentioned his thoughts on how the Berwick team were shaping up, or maybe what he felt about Peterborough potentially coming back, but running at Oxford, or even his views on whether opening a track at Northampton would be good for Speedway.. Nothing... Just Football.... Maybe his life long love for the sport has ended?

What we are seeing here is the years of neglect and lack of investment or ideas for speedway coming home to roost, we have nobody else to blame but ourselves, when sky first gave us the 5 million in the 90s it was like giving a heroin junkie 5 million and saying put some in the bank for the future and spend a bit on getting some help for your addiction

Wanting the best isn’t wrong. Living beyond your means to achieve it is. And eventually you’ll just go bust. Sound familiar? The sport cannot sustain having the best riders here. You must surely see that. All this “not enough riders,” stuff is nonsense. There are plenty but because of self-created circumstances over a number of years they’re not at the level they once were. There’s not an overnight fix but the situation can be rectified over time. The answer is to cut cloth accordingly now to ensure the possibility of one day being able to have a thriving sport here again, including the best riders in the world hopefully. It might not happen, but it might. Carry on as we are and it is a certainty to not happen. Sometimes you have to go backwards before you can go forwards. Being solvent is a pretty good first step.

well run clubs don't call off a fixture cos the pit gate needs fixing!

But that is one of the major issues.. The majority of fans don't have any faith that the future will be better.. Simply based on what those in control have delivered over the last two decades... Even the die hards on the many Speedway related FB accounts (generic and club specific), take the pee at how poorly the sport is ran.. Why, suddenly now therefore, will those in charge improve things? The clearly, obvious, fundamental issues facing the sport have been there for a long, long time, with the answer, year in year out, being "Let's do exactly the same thing again"... Which, once again, they have chosen to do this year.. Well a "mini version"... The bottom line is... The Premiership simply doesn't work in its current guise, and is only there to give a few "quality riders" a fair few quid, (thus increasing costs much higher than crowd numbers) and the rest the chance to Double Up.. At least a 14 team league (at whatever level), looks, from the outside, like something with relevance, and makes the sport look at least "sizeable" and covers pretty much the whole country, which should improve sponsorship and marketing opportunities...

i think the premiership promoters have managed the majority of the downfall by themselves

Entertainment wise? I would suggest with Glasgow, Scunthorpe, Redcar, and Workington, the second tier, overall, delivers better racing... With, the NSS being the only top tier track that consistently delivers a similar standard...

Surely doing the right thing is ensuring league Speedway in GB continues for the next decade. Not ensuring GP riders can race over here?

What has this topic got to do with Newcastle?

I think Leicester should be congratulated for their use of social media in the last few weeks. They were the first, if not only club to update their supporters on what their plans were, then they announce the departure of their best rider (with Max confirming this 15 minutes later) but within 12 hours announce the signing of Thompson. Anyone would think they actually have put some thought into how they use social media & have a strategy. If this is the case can other clubs please take note....

Just quite sad really, I’m sure many like me log on to see what’s happening in the speedway world. But have to scroll through pages of nonsense.

... meanwhile in North Lincolnshire

Glasgow aren’t just being smart business wise for their own benefit either, losing them would affect all the northern clubs. Glasgow bring a big following to Berwick for sure and I’m sure they take it to the other northern venues too, they’d also lose virtually all the away support they get at Ashfield. It would be a lose lose situation for those with the most at stake. There is nothing “brave” about what the teams in the Premiership are doing, it’s business suicide for most, you just need to look at recent history.

You just don’t get it do you? Yes we should all bow down to the Ipswich way, and have gone bust by April because we’re paying the town’s average salary on one rider every week. You have a great sponsor in Guy Nicholls, and get a good crowd from I’m sure successful promoting, but that doesn’t mean everyone can follow you. Team speedway has levels, the nine teams in the Championship are in that league because the promotors feel that is where they are most sustainable, for the FUTURE OF BRITISH SPEEDWAY. But the Premiership clubs, oh no, Championship clubs must follow them, as they’re saving British speedway, look how healthy and sustainable they are. Birmingham only lost a reported 500K in 2 or 3 years, Oxford couldn’t afford to pay underperforming ‘international superstars’ come the end of the season. Belle Vue lost an absolute fortune as usual, but presumably have someone to bail them out, possibly Council grants? Sheffield put up for sale, Ipswich put up for sale. Lets all down to the Ipswich way, if we did, there wouldn’t be a team sport in this country. Half would fold trying to pay £20K a meeting to a foreign superstar, and the other half would follow the Ipswich promotor and put the club up for sale when they didn’t get their way at a meeting. Who’s buying those clubs? No one with any sense, that’s for sure.

So the 2026 double up league is going to run for the benefit of the riders and to the detriment of Promoters, Fans and the Sport as a whole, I really cannot believe the BSPL or should I say the promoters of the Double up League want to Promote a League of 5 teams, I refuse to call it a Premiership as any League in any Sport that has so few teams can only be described at best as being cobbled together, Double up promoters hang your heads in shame for making the Sport a laughing stock.

Good news. 5 Team PREM is far from ideal but it's still better than One Big League.

I've made a few of these, and this is an updated 2026 version, showing all Polish, SpeedwayLigaen and Bauhaus Ligan tracks and stadiums plus Warsaw. https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1C3RGUldA6ob2i3hqjjN91Ah7LKMqJA8&usp=sharing

How about a little respect for keeping speedway going for nearly 60 years in their remote outpost?

There is a lot of talk about teams like Belle Vue and Ipswich (if they run) having to "drop down" next season, but, of course, if the Premier League as it currently exists is no longer, the new single league will, de facto, be the top league, so, actually, it is a matter of the other teams moving up! It's just that the standard won't be so good.

I'd say there needs to be discussion much much earlier than mid year Ideally they need to start as part of the rearranged AGM in January

And this silly vendetta against all things NORA needs to STOP!

Anyone defending 3 home 3 away with the play offs is part of the problem. It's a shambles and I shall not spend a penny on it.

It's surely the other way around... all these riders have been signed up to CL clubs for weeks

What makes you both think that? On pure 2025 averages (across all meetings) alone, Mitch was higher... 6.18 - Mitchell McDiarmid 5.68 - Fraser Bowes Do you think Bowes will improve more than McDiarmid in 2026 - at a new home track, whereas Mitch is at the same track as in 2025? I can't it even see it being close in Mitch's favour. Each to their own though.

For me what’s happening now is another missed opportunity just like in 2020 to reset the sport on a better path

... or just stay in his Polish hotel room and watch it on BSN Sorry, couldn't resist, you set em up and I'll knock em in 😁

Hear there's a new range of BSPL sticking plasters being released just in time for Christmas. A five team league is awful. With play-offs even more Mickey Mouse. Big change is needed (has been for years), nobody has the minerals to do it though. Easier to watch the sport die. Why should fans hand over their hard earned when all they get is treated with contempt. Hand over more money for a worse product year on year.

Not if Poland has anything to do with it. The golden promised land is not going to happen. Those in charge have really lost the plot and who with half a brain is going to want to watch repetitive matches with double uppers on inflated rates screwing the supporters because the TV income has gone south and someone has to make up the financial shortfall. Two occasions, Covid and the current situation gave the sport the opportunity to reinvent itself but what have you got, the same old scenario. It has failed the punter yet again and this time it will implode because no one is going to be fobbed off with this plan. BSPL, you really do not have a clue about your audience and are so far removed from reality by your actions you will fail and regrettably be instrumental in the demise of the sport in this Country. Thankfully we have Poland to fall back on.

Thoughts with everyone at Workington Speedway at this time.

Point your boss to the "What will 2026 UK speedway bring?" topic thread and I'm sure they'll understand... they may even give you compassionate leave! 😂

I know a fair few people who have given up on the forum because of what’s written above. Speedway has enough problems, it doesn’t need all us fighting each other. We should ALL be doing our best to bring people to the sport, not name calling and insulting each other. As a Poole fan who’s attended for as long as I can remember, I enjoy being able to post on various pages, it’s what makes the forum enjoyable, enlightening and most importantly SPEEDWAY!

As much I praise my club for putting out a statement committing themselves to the premiership, I really struggle to see what actually is the premiership. As it stands it's Leicester, Belle Vue, Kings Lynn. Being commited to that is something I am not looking forward to. If we can add Ipswich and Sheffield to the mix we're getting somewhere, but as of now we have no idea what's going on. I'm just so frustrated that every single fan has seen this coming, for years in fact. We all knew Birmingham would shut soon, we all knew that Oxford would drop the premiership but it's almost like the powers at be are surprised! The idiots that run this sport have clearly been living in fantasy world and haven't been prepared for this situation at all. It's embarrassing and complete chaos.

It is pretty clear / likely that no fixtures will be announced until after anything is confirmed. In the meantime, yes BSN "is a thing" and for a Christmas treat why wait till March, we're going to Australia for the Aussie champs and the FIM Oceana championship. £44.99 for 6 meetings. Fun for all the family and high possibility of Greg Blair fighting a kangaroo/snake/spider. You don't get that on TNT.

A few years ago, somewhere in the UK, when they had ten teams down from eleven the previous year... "Great, one less team this year, I could maybe get some of their riders and make my team better".. Then, the next year when they had nine, down from ten.. "Great, one less team this year, I could maybe get some of their riders and make my team better"... Then, the next year when they had eight, down from nine.. "Great, one less team this year, I could maybe get some of their riders and make my team better".. Then the next year when they had seven, down from eight... "Great, one less team this year, I could maybe get some of their riders and make my team better".. Then the next year when they had five, down two, from seven.. "This is absolutely ridiculous, we cannot run the sport like this, something should be done about all these tracks closing, there isn't enough teams for my team to race against now. Some of the second tier teams need to come up to my league. Some promoters are so selfish, and just look after themselves, they should all be like me, a proper team player"...

Sorry to say that I am not one of the parties mentioned in attempting to buy Ipswich - I do hope they find a buyer however and manage to make it to tapes for 2026!

I think the Speedway Star has actually improved its output in the past 12 months or so... Given the internet makes many stories "old news" for a once a week magazine, they have increased features and interviews with not just riders and promoters but others within the sport... It also often brings detail to what gets said on here, eg a rider riding for a certain team, they will have the reasons behind the move. . Well worth £3.60 a week for a hard copy. .

Garbage (the highlighted bit). A well run club will be able to attract and maintain sponsorship of the level required to operate profitably. Other clubs struggle to do this, as well as pay riders on time, act professionally to gain local prominence and get 1.5k to 2k fans to attend. So I'd say it has been well run, it's not luck!

It’s just not good enough, it’s destined to fail, fans don’t want it, it doesn’t interest me at all

I just love all these business experts popping up on here, and giving 'advice' on something they have absolutely no clue about. Hilarious...😂

Get in there!!!!!!!! What a time to be alive!!!!!

Isn't it strange all the people who are knocking batch only talk about a couple of episodes of strange behaviour, but Troy has had some very good meetings for the Comets over the last couple of years, at Redcar he was superb same as at Oxford and Plymouth, true fans witness these meetings and don't take notice of hearsay. Agree can be frustrating when not in the right frame of mind, but 98% of the time I have no issues at home or away with Troy on a 7.10 average

It might be a case that we just have to accept the sport in the UK at the level we have known it previously is now over. I mentioned before i stopped going in my late teens in the early 90's when I discovered nightclubs , fast forward 33 years and nightclubs that pulled in thousands of people on a Saturday night then are all gone. The nearest city to me had 10 night clubs in the early 90's now it has one tiny one, and loads of pubs have closed over that time frame also, places that from 1990 -2005 if you had said to me one day all these will be gone you would have thought never going to happen but it did. Its accelerated since then with social media really taking off a lot of the youth of today have near zero interest in going out, online gaming, dating app's so you don't physically have to trawl out rounds pubs any more looking for a likely partner. Why bother with restaurants get Deliveroo to drop off a pizza to your door, Blockbusters video gone the way of the Dodo when streaming caught on. I occasionally look back at threads on here from 10 years or so back, and there's loads of names I come across who are no longer posting, I would guess there is maybe 50 of us die hards on here now posting and hoping a miracle happens so even this forum is probably on last knockings. Really sad how its ended up all be it the sport has actually limped on for far longer than i thought it would but these days its a struggle to attract punters even when you are offering a professional leisure opportunity let alone when you are trying to attract people to a sport where the riders all ride for different teams every other week and after the first month in you can pretty much guarantee every week from the two teams on show there will most likely be at least 2-4 of the combined 14 riders missing. It really does look like checkmate is nearing I would say one big league but the argument that there has to be some form of even dire top league to subsidise the bottom league as far as rider earnings goes does have merit as an argument, so it really is a case of least bad outcome. I would imagine it will be a five team top league in 2026 with a view to finding a sacraficial lamb to get it up to six in 2027 unless someone with a load of money and no business sense can be shoe horned into getting Northampton running in 2027.

Heard plenty saying it is a good side and should be up there. Not only Glasgow fans saying this. I haven’t seen one saying we will win the treble have you or did you just make that up.

If it wasn't 'well run', it wouldn't have been 'well backed'. Successful national businessmen don't throw their money at poorly run outfits...

No different to no Championship club wanting to move up No different from (allegedly) Premiership teams being blocked from joining the Championship No different from those blocking 'one big league' in various guises All as bad as each other then really....