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How can anyone be getting excited for a 5 team league is beyond me

Not a mention of the sterling work that speedway futures Ltd habe done behind the scenes,not a mention of who the new Ipswich owners are if indeed there are any, a statement that told us very little but what did we expect really ? You don’t need to wait for an AGM to fix a problem and it’s clear they have no idea how to fix the sport, carry on doing the same and pound to a penny they haven’t addressed any issues of cost either for riders and more importantly the long suffering dwindling fan base

They could put out a NL team and still be top 5

Earlier in the winter there was a thought that radical change could be coming. Its certainly been a radical winter a u turn on ownership at Sheffield, Louis leaving Ipswich, Ipswich confirmed as running but no idea who is running it. As far as radical change in how the sport is run which is needed well that’s zero change. I find it staggering that it’s more of the same.

Then make a short statement saying they will be making a full statement on wed/thur and not just leave us plebs hanging

Trouble is people get out of the habit of going each week its regular fixtures whats needed

I really hope that the majority of posters on here do not represent the general speedway supporter! There is so much negativity that, if I were a potential Premier promoter, I would say "I don't think I'll bother". Whatever you think of those who run speedway, they are doing much, much, more than sitting in front of a keyboard, sniping at those who do get off their ar*e and they risk their own money!

Because those that are getting excited, just love speedway. I don't think it's wrong that people are excited for a new season. I - personally - would still be getting excited if there were just two teams left as I always miss speedway over the winter. Yes, the current situation is far from ideal and there's plenty that could be done in the future to improve things, but it's not going to stop me from going to meetings and enjoying myself. Boycotting the sport is not going to save it.

Another factor is the age profile of speedway supporters. As folks get older they don’t turn out for every meeting in poor weather to stand outside in often spartan conditions on cold evenings to watch the stop start racing punctuated by all too frequent delays . With each passing year, I would suggest there are fewer “hard core” fans who will turn up every meeting .

Have seen this suggestion made 2 or 3 times It just doesn't make any sense! If he wanted to be involved he wouldn't be selling Ipswich

Some would say you have managed to emigrate without even moving....

WTF! just merely responded to someone who said Supermarket's won't touch ex-cons by pointing out that Timpson's business model is to do so and he's one of the UK's wealthiest men! Personally, I don't give a flying f'k if Garrity is back in speedway or not, if someone chooses to give him a chance good luck to them, there are plenty of wrong un's involved in the sport on and off the track already!

If we pay our money at the turnstiles we are entitled to our opinion whether you or the promoters like it or not

Delighted to see Cook back this season. I’ve been critical of some instances involving him in the past, but a British speedway without Craig Cook is a sadder, less entertaining and lower in quality place. Really strong side being built at Northside.

I think we are sorted for the reserve birth

You are right, the championship promoters do seem to have it right, at least a bit more right than the premiership. However. Without the premiership, the championship would not work. The championship uses many of the riders from the premiership, but as was reported in the star, at a massively reduced pay rate, so without premiership money it wouldn't work for the riders. The premiership has lost a handful of teams in recent seasons mainly due to losing their access to a track. No one from the championship wants to move up, as their business model would not work,either due to race nights, losing local derbies, extra costs etc. In addition to all this, next year Poland are prohibiting riders from racing in more than 1 extra league, meaning we probably lose most of the better danes we have , and potentially quite a few to Sweden,meaning less " top" riders in this country, making next years premiership potentially weaker , so it begs the question, what next? For the championship to work it needs the premiership for the premiership to work it needs riders, so if the premiership falls, so does the championship in its current form. Riders need to earn x amount of money so either the championship has to pay more or costs must be cut. British speedway needs more riders to fill its teams, so we need to rebuild.If that means a " lower" standard , so be it, likewise if it means 5 or 6 man teams , so be it. Let clubs race on their favoured night, we've already been done over by Poland, and other riders will ride in Denmark or Sweden, so early on this season there needs to be a rider census to get a rough idea as to how many riders would be available to fill all championship and premiership teams, riding on whichever night, and then work out team sizes and strengths from there, based on 2 leagues, one professional league, but with protected races for at least 1 or 2 " juniors", and the national development league ,with a clear progression between the leagues. Reduce engine servicing costs, ban trick parts, put a rev limiter on that will make a difference, maybe a minimum flywheel weight, do the consultation now, with a view to 2027, reassure the punters that genuine change is on the way,and rebuild from the bottom up. Now going to grab my tin hat and get behind the parapet waiting to be shot down

Seems positive from the club on pending signings saying at no point they have struggled to attract riders and that the final pieces arent far away so i think rather then negativity the clubs activity should be looked at with optimism as to giving fans the best side to allow the team be best served for a title challenge. I for one am excited for the pending news.

Yes

And there definitely won't be a future if everybody stops going.

Probably Louis I’d have thought. Think some deals were already done early doors so they’ll probably be resurrected if those riders are still available. Wonder if Vaculik could be tempted? Only has one club in Poland as far as I can see, nothing in Sweden or Denmark and of course, no GP’s now either. Needs more racing than that surely?

Put it in your pocket and never let it fade away... or save it for a rainy day 🤔

Poland have already announced their plans for 2027 regarding rider availability and we've done absolutely nothing to mitigate this by starting our league transformation a year before them, it's not even been addressed... we seem to be just blindly sailing on, full steam ahead 🚢🧊

Having just seen the AGM Statement.I'm glad I dont support the Prem. The decisions made have no real change to last season and dont seem to look forward to the future of Speedway in the coming seasons.They still dont know if a Sixth team will enter the Prem,slight adjustment to the finishing order of the league,and a possible new tournament and it took them 3 months to come up with this drivel for 2026. No 3 or 5 year plan going forward,an absolute shambles of an AGM,just papering over the cracks. New Directors to the Board,what are they going to bring,and this Commitee of an MP and Harry Redknapp, that is absolute bollocks,they have no interest in promoting Speedway in the near future.

Sounds like a brand of condoms

Superheat gone 👍

Adrian Smith couldn't believe the way the sport was ran,, and tried to ensure the Aces, (at least), were ran with credibility.... He did this as he listened to fans on his many walkrounds during the meeting... He, like so many others with actual vision, eventually gave up, as he knew the capability simply wasn't there amongst so many of the others to drag the sport up to its potential... Another good person, who understood the modern world, lost to the sport...

The AGM news is being published at 6pm tonight

One Million Percent... There should have been soundbites from Promoters leading up to the meeting, putting forward, in a positive way, what they would like to see from the AGM... Giving it some importance and resonance... And then. On the day. Photos taken of all there and shared via all SM outlets, including one as a collective all together... Then, last evening, a statement (again positive), should have been put out, even if it was only to acknowledge the meeting took place, a generic update as to what's agreed, and that a further statement with detail is forthcoming in the next "x" hours.... Do they actually have a PR person? Edit. Did the meeting actually take place? Which, as we don't know, probably answers my question re any PR person....

Sorry Wookieboy Don , I strongly disagree. In view of the parlous state of UK speedway, an interim statement should have been issued to all media channels . If nothing else to confirm that the meeting has at least taken place yesterday ! Sadly this poor PR typifies the running of the sport in the UK nowadays. A publicity opportunity lost.

Well.... The Epiphany has passed... And, I presume, the Three/Four/Five/(Six?) Wise Men, have returned home?.. Any news from them? Worth the long trip?... Did they bother visiting in the end?... Certainly no photos taken of them in the stable/hotel.... Nor any mention of them arriving in the various Gospels of Social Media.. I have just opened up the Bible of GB Speedway, at page one, and all it tells me is... "Lo, and so it did pass, Saint Jack Holder leadeth the way in the Land of the Convicted Ones, at the ends of the Earth"...

Is he bitter or just stating the facts? 😜

Bernard never offended anyone, offence is taken not given

Unfortunately the malaise the sport finds itself is because riders like bomber have kept their cash register ringing twice over rather than once!

Almost every contributor on here can see the problems looming for the sport but those in charge of its destiny are not doing too much to keep the fan base onside and give some ideas as to how things might change. An announcement following the AGM then radio silence. No provisional fixture list, no details of the new competition, no more news about the mystery 6th club and none of this can help riders, sponsors etc. plan for the coming season and it must have a negative impact on season ticket sales. With the lack of clarity is any wonder some supporters are disillusioned with the sport and riders have opted to ply their trade elsewhere. You would have thought that some press releases would have been forthcoming even it was only to update of progress or otherwise of changes which may at least placate some of the doubters. The BSPL really have not got a clue when it comes to taking care of the fan base. If they are unsure as to what to do might I suggest they take a look at Poland, Sweden and Denmark all of whom are way ahead of the UK.

Another Poole Speedway article in the Echo online today with Matt Ford (more coverage than Semenyo!) stating that any discussion about a 'one league set-up' for 2027 should start NOW, including clarity on likely rider costs and any TV/broadcast contract. Its no good leaving it til August/Sept when many clubs have started their team-building for the next season. He has confirmed once again that Poole will NOT go 'up'(?!) into the Premiership within the present structure and fixed race nights!

I think the biggest concern for Poole and every other team in Britain is not having a stadium but more importantly having a British league to ride in,especially now mark lemon is on the board of directors who will want to make the championship weaker and the premiership stronger.

I don’t think anyone genuine speedway fan will be disappointed if speedway stays on in the Poole area even if they don’t like the team. As soon as people hear the name Clark Osbourne they are then genuinely worried for that club. The man is a cancer to the sport and a habitual liar to speedway fans and promotions.

Kurtz not signed for the Speedway Team Benevolent Fund ((I mean Belle Vue - sorry Ouch) so there is hope yet

Considering the numbers in the Premiership this is all that could be done. Rightly so the Championship promoters didn't want the additional cost. HOWEVER they need to have plans in place for 2027 before the play-offs. As next season will bring a whole wave of new problems that cant be ignored and needs to be addressed head on. If they don't have a suitable plan in motion moving forward if the new Poland restrictions take place there won't be to many riders waiting for a contract. So yet another "speedway elastoplast" wont be a remedy from here on in.

Agree. Its a shambles. The amount of fixtures is ridiculous. The Premiership even riding home and away twice is still shocking. One big league was needed to sort this mess out. Limit teams to 5 or 6 riders and change format if not enough riders to go around. The gap in fixtures is not good enough. Its farcical. It seems that the majority of fans can see whats wrong with the sport but those numbskulls in charge can't. Pathetic.

The problem with long term planning is the continuing closure of tracks. It is getting to the stage where the shrinking number of tracks could lead to team speedway being unsustainable. Whilst we all like watching the GPs, almost everyone on this forum will have initially been drawn to the sport by watching the 7 v 7 team format. Supporting your team is a tribal thing, like football. Can’t speak for others, but this is why I love speedway and have zero interest in any other motor sport.

Underwhelming statement when big changes and ideas where needed rather than go with the same old tired system if one of the 5 teams close mid season the whole league collapses .

So, the team that wins the play-off tie will be better off financially than the team that finishes top...

A relief. Still begs the question, who will be running it..

Which is what? Don't suggest there is a reason and not tell everyone

Double Header next year?

Did the AGM take place? Nothing as a prelude on their own website... You would think something so fundamentally important in actually delivering the sport each season would have been given some media focus wouldn't you?

Not allowed to do so.... I took on many "criminals" for my supermarkets all around the country... As long as they informed me about their past history then they fulfilled the criteria for a job... If they didn't let me know, and I found out later, then, legally, I could dismiss them for failing to declare such information... When you have served your time then you are as equal as everyone else...

Let Garritty work for Timpson then

Yeah, give me the PL featuring no show Ben Cook at No1 (or Jack Holder or Brady Kurtz... or insert the name of your favourite No1) backed up by Joe Thompson and Sam Hagon at reserve 😁