Wee Eck

You are well ahead of me on this - I haven’t read the article. But your point is the article says he was offered a team spot at Edinburgh but turned it down because, although he would earn well, he’d end up with a high average at the end of the season? Dear me! As you say, a complete lack of ambition. Second strings sometimes do themselves out of a job because their average doesn’t fit, but that’s surely a rarity for heat leaders?

First of all, I’m not sure there’s a connection between him not going back and worrying about his end of 2019 season average. I suspect that, had Edinburgh wanted him, he’d have gone back, so maybe he’s looking for an excuse. But, I do take your point that it suggests a lack of ambition when a rider in February 2019 is worried about what his average might be in a year’s time. Whatever he ends up as, he should surely be determined to be the best available whether that’s a 5 pointer, a 12 pointer, or anywhere in between. Very few good riders miss out on team places at the beginning of a season

Not sure I follow that. From what I can see, last year, he started at 8.52 and ended at 8, 7.8 if he’s allowed the 2.5% reduction. Maybe it’s because he’s not improving is why he didn’t get a place at Edinburgh? Maybe there are other reasons?

That’s a huge accusation. It’s a different company so are you sure it’s the same people?

See below

I think you almost got there, then formed an inconsistent conclusion Many a rider has fallen for the “Poole Speedway pays best” and have looked for excessive deals. Poole have consistently offered a fair rate but said that (a) they’ll get paid on time and (b) they’ll have a chance of picking up additional sponsorship. That’s what the attraction has been, and probably still is. Even though there were no race suits this year, many Poole riders carried sponsorship logos from businesses that also support Poole like County Crest, Wessex Marine, Sunshine Service Centre and Meridian Lifts. If Poole have decided not to pay what they believe are excessive demands, it doesn’t automatically follow that either of your two assumptions - lack of funds or diminishing interest - apply. Indeed, it seems more likely that, by making sure the business remains profitable, there is a greater chance that someone will buy it as a going concern On the specifics, I’m not convinced about Allen. He spent a lot of 2018 moaning and seemed to sparkle in heat 2 then fail to live up to expectations. Starting the season on 5.07 and ending in what should have been an easier league on 4.56 - an average lower than Auty, Newman, Covatti, Summers etc - doesn’t sound like someone worth paying a lot for.

That both riders were out regardless of what the AGM decided. At least one of them was telling other people in October that he wouldn’t be in the 2019 team

You are rather a rude person, aren’t you? I’m trying to have a serious conversion correcting your misunderstanding of the BV management’s decision making process, particularly that the only “bigger picture” in not re-hiring Cook and Tungate was for the benefit of BV, exactly what they should be doing, and you seem to think that they and they alone have the good of the whole of British Speedway in mind when they make team building decisions. More fool them if that was the case. But, of course, it’s not. As I said before, you should ask them why they did it as you won’t believe me or probably anyone else.

The fact that you can’t justify your accusation that I don’t understand how things work says even more. To make it easier, what about Jason Doyle - in Swindon’s retained this - being “released” by Leicester after three full seasons? Let’s face it, Cook and Tungate weren’t released because of any “bigger picture”. The BV management chose, solely for the sake of BV, not to re-sign these two riders. You need to ask the BV management how big their picture was

Tell me more. My understanding is that, if you have loaned a rider, you have first call but only if the team holding his registration doesn’t have other plans. But that doesn’t either force you to use them or actively release them. Under these circumstances you are not really releasing them, are you? Do you think Poole “released” Chris Harris, who’s not on their retained list, because of the “bigger picture” or because they didn’t want him?

If only that were true.....Tungate and Cook weren’t theirs to release Matt Ford also generously releases riders he doesn’t want

Why would BSPA have unpaid debts? I thought they were just the administrators, funded by the clubs?

2 full seasons surely? i thought he rode for Birmingham in 2016? I hope you’re not talking drivel

There are no wrong answers, only opinions. I make my point, others make theirs. If I don’t agree, surely I’m allowed to argue my case, I’m the same ways others can argue against me. I’d never call someone else’s opinion “drivel”. That’s not only uncalled for, but just rude. Of course, that also is only an opinion

Am I not entitled to an opinion? I have stated mine, and, even if it doesn’t concur with yours, it is surely valid. I was a huge Andy Smith fan from the 1980s and was gutted when he went elsewhere towards the end of that decade. It was great when he return to BV around the end of the millennium but I thought it was a step too far when he raced at Kirky Lane in 2005. But this isn’t about Andy, it’s about Jack. Andy rode for one British team from when he was 18 until he was 24. Jack is 20 tomorrow and has already ridden for at least 6 teams. To me, the “connection” was broken when Andy arranged for Glasgow rather than BV to buy Jack’s registration from Birmingham. But, as I said, that’s just my opinion. It may be, indeed, probably is, different to that of others, but that doesn’t automatically make it drivel.

Eric Boocock was “connected” to Nigel Boocock, but that didn’t mean they should have ridden for the same team. Wayne and Tony Briggs were “connected” to Barry Briggs, but that didn’t mean they had to ride for Swindon or Southampton. Andy Smith is a Belle Vue legend. Jack isn’t. Yet. Who knows, it might happen one day, but how can you claim someone should have signed for the Colts because of a “connection” when, in his short career, he has ridden for Birmingham, Glasgow, Sheffield, Swindon (and the Colts), and whose registration is held by Glasgow (and he was born in Stoke)? That’s a lot of “connections”.

So, you are now saying that, when you posted the comment: “Richie Worrall left Glasgow before signing for Poole or around a similar time.” that was not meant to be factual? So what was it meant to be? Deliberately false? I have no allegiance to Poole but I have noticed that you have an apparently insatiable desire to knock anything the Poole team, the promotion and the supporters say and do? Someone mentions the name of a potential signing and you immediately find a negative. I’m not having a go at you, I’ve no idea who you are, but I am concerned at your negativity. It cannot be good for your general well being finding pleasure in criticising others.

I love the way you post unsupported comment as fact. Richie Worrall started riding for Poole in May and was still riding for Glasgow in July. Hardly leaving Glasgow “before or around a similar time”. Also he quickly switched from Glasgow to Edinburgh so his travelling was just about the same. So why would the commute, if (a) he is signed, and (b) he is in fact commuting, affect him? I fear your need to have a kick at anything to do with Poole may be affecting your judgement.

That’s the wrong answer. Jack is connected to Andy who is connected to the Aces. But Jack has no direct connection. That’s like saying that Richard Lawson was connected to Glasgow because of Steve. Richard was riding for many years before signing for Glasgow. And then look how that worked out. Next you’ll claim that Jason Crump should only have ridden for Swindon because that’s where Phil rode for many years.

In what way is Smith “connected” to Belle Vue?

Rob Ledwith?

Dumped, not retired

Andy Smith maybe, not Jack. Isn’t Jack “owned” by Glasgow?

That’s one version......

Wouldn’t you?