BWitcher

Yes, I can categorically state 100% that I would make a better job of knowing the rules than Middleditch if that was my job. Says the man talking behind his computer screen...........

Middleditch has done nothing to help the situation apart from some jibberish about him being 'misquoted'. In cases like this, if it's true, you will get a retraction from the newspaper.. has that happened? No, in fact quite the opposite. An immediate clarification from the paper that they stand by the quotes. Middleditch has failed to explain his comments. He has not denied he made the comments. He has failed to come out and condemn Ward for his actions. All points towards the fact he blundered badly and he knows it. As for not knowing the rules Starman.. what a feeble argument you put forward. Its his JOB. His JOB is to know the rules and to know them when 'under pressure' as you call it. If he can't manage it, which you seem to be acknowledging that he can't, he's not fit for the role is he? Glad you don't rarely post on here if thats the standard of your posting. You are claiming that 'the decent kids' ride unregistered, uninsured bikes whilst drunk AND stoned, flee from the police by riding said bike onto a pavement and across a park? That's not having fun, thats being an irresponsible idiot who puts the lives of others at risk. If you condone that, that says all we need to know about you and your character. Thankfully, you are very much in the minority.

Codswallop. Matt Ford had no problems with telling it like it is.

That's not the issue as SCB has explained.

Yes, in a tweet. Not a dickie bird about what he actually said or meant then. I highly doubt the whole phrase would have been made up by the reporter.

Says who? Would take one hell of a 'misquote' to change that statement around. Or are you accusing the reporter of lying?

There are only two people speaking rubbish. Yourself and Neil Middleditch. The rest of the world, including the promoter of your club Matt Ford are talking sense.

We're making progress. So if they haven't made it up... what does that leave us with...

Mr Rising, do you not think it is of interest to the Speedway Star to investigate the comments attributed to the National Team Manager? At the very least to give him a chance to tell his side of the story, as the current picture does not portray him very well.

His reaction is "Get of your high horses #learnthefacts" Not exactly helping the situation.

So your claim is that Ford was interviewed by the Sports dept, Middleditch wasn't. Fords comments were accurately portrayed, Middleditches were made up? Middleditch is doing himself no favors by telling people to 'get of there high horse' on twitter. I highly doubt that the reporter 'made up' the comments attributed to Middledith. Middleditch should simply explain the context in which the quotes were made (if indeed the context is different to that portrayed in the story).

Fully agree 21CH. Well said Matt Ford, let's hope some assistance can be given to Darcy, it would be a shame to see such talent go to waste.

So your story is changing already Reliant Robin.

It's always amusing that you can go on one thread and you will find people complaining the sport is in decline because of the lack of 'characters' and start talking about the hellraisers of days gone by... then switch to another thread where a modern rider is involved in an incident and the same people are castigating them. With this incident, Ward has once again been foolish. However, he was caught, tried, convicted and punished. Should the authorities deem he should receive some kind of ban from the sport I wouldn't have an objection to it, but by the same token I wouldn't be upset if they didn't. Middleditches comments need clarifying. The more I think about it, the more I am sure that we are missing the context of the quote. I strongly suspect he was answering in relation to Darcy drinking/taking drugs and not the wider incident. He may well have gone on to mention that but the newspaper only chose one excerpt of what he said. Poole/Middleditch would be wise to make a statement tomorrow to clarify the situation and if its done correctly put it to bed and save his job.

The ONLY defence I can think of for Middleditch if he was asked about his reaction to Darcy's drug taking and his response was in relation to that.

Wrong again Starman. He brought his own kids into the equation. He made the comments, nobody else. By trying to defending him, you are unwittingly condemning him still further.

As I've said on another thread, it appears Middleditch and position as National team manager are untenable.

Border line of what? For quoting what Middleditch has said? Middleditch has set the boundaries here, you, as usual have totally made a fool of yourself by trying to defend the undefensable.

Middleditch's posistion is untenable in any well run professional sport. So he's quite safe.

It's worse that that, the Australian article tells us he mounted the kerb and rode off into a park!

Middleditch should be sacked from his role as National Manager, in no other sport would he be allowed to continue after such comments.

Neil Middleditch's comments are reprehensible. Fleeing from the police whilst under the influence of drugs and alcohol, riding an uninsured and unregistered bike and Middleditch says:- "It is what most young people do these days isn't it? He wasn't racing or putting anyone else's life at risk on the track." No Middleditch. It isn't what 'most young people do' at all.

Precisely. If anyone is seriously subscribing to Sky only for speedway coverage then they're paying a ridiculous amount for it. I called, explained wasn't happy the GP's were dropped and got a reduction in what I was paying. Happy to keep as enjoy other sports/programmes than just speedway on there. Incidentally, there are also sports shown which I am not a fan off, but I don't feel the need to abuse them as some seem to do on here.

That's an individual riders choice and who is to say that the sport wouldn't have naturally evolved along those lines anyway without the introduction of the GP. Events have been reduced due to apathy from the public as well as apathy from the riders. This was already setting in before the GP was introduced.

Of course not, because you form logical explanations as to why. WK however does not.