Steve Irving

That’s where the rumour came from. Phil does get some duff information given to him from time to time, like the Brennan to Sheffield information, but the fact Adam Ellis’ father has also claimed on here that he knows who it is, and liked Phil’s post naming Mayfield Sports, then you can safely say that this one is more than just rumour. If this comes off btw, then it’s a game changer for Ipswich particularly, and maybe in the future, British Speedway in general.

Possible, but again it’s the only one that is inaccurate. Ipswich has been removed from Doyle’s etc.

Well that’s another issue. If Ipswich are currently picking the bones out of the scraps left already, god help a potential sixth team. That’s why all those moaning at a lack of variety with only having five teams, need to understand that a top league only suits five clubs because of the lack of available riders of a certain pedigree! We had a seven team league in 2025, but let’s be brutally honest here, only five of them were competitive. Is it really worth adding more teams, if they’re just going to be cannon fodder like Oxford and Birmingham were last year?

With Louis admitting they’re way behind the other clubs because of the sale uncertainty, I think it’s clear that Ipswich are going to have to pick the bones out of what’s left this season. What the Ipswich faithful need to do though, is not judge the new owner on the back of potentially putting together a less than stellar line up. They’re coming in very late in the day so the supporters need to back the new owners and give them the benefit of the doubt. Next winter will be the time to judge their ambition when they’ve had a year to get their feet under the table. The worst thing that could happen, is the support to dwindle to a level where the new person makes a significant loss, and then simply sacks it all off in 12 months time on the back of it. That would put the sport in Ipswich in all kinds of trouble! Even if you’re disappointed in the line up, back them. At least in the short term.

Again, everyone seems to know who Chris Louis has sold Ipswich to. Is it Mayfield Sports Events LTD or is it someone else?

Ride for us this year and I’ll get you back in the GP series next year? Interesting theory and entirely plausible. Guess we’ll soon find out how ambitious they are, and whether they have any immediate influence. Finance shouldn’t be an issue.

Ipswich’ is by far the most interesting team building because it’s going to look a lot different to the ones we’re used to seeing. The others will just recycle most of what they’ve had before, Ipswich will probably look like a completely different team. And the added intrigue is nobody is too sure who is putting the team together. Is it Louis or the new guy? Or both?

There’s a lot of dreamers and pretend ITK’s on here, but Phil isn’t usually one of those to be fair to him. He didn’t seem in any doubt that Brennan was Sheffield bound.

They all do seem to be correct, so if that is a mistake then it’s the only one made. If he gets the 8% reduction as well as the British reduction, then that then creates a vacancy big enough for Chris Holder to add to the other options I mentioned earlier. A top three of Jack Holder, Chris Holder AND Woffinden, would be some spearhead in a weakened league of 37 points! Pickering would have to join either Ipswich or a potential sixth team if he wants a Premiership ride this year. Perhaps there is substance to the rumour he was pricing himself out of a return to Sheffield? No Brennan for Sheffield either. Both probably Ipswich bound.

If Woffinden has signed on again, that would leave 9.19 for last two. A 3 pointer at Six leaves 6.19. Janowski (already has three clubs?) Rew Ellis Tungate All fit. Would obviously mean no place for Pickering, Chris Holder or the rumoured Tom Brennan. Unless of course Woffinden gets a bigger reduction for spending the entire year out injured? And if it’s not a genuine oversight on the FIM website.

Iversen, Lawson, Simon Lambert..

Perhaps it’s been delayed again until Sir Christopher Louis decides to come back from his Hollibobs.

It’s even the smaller things like team suits. They take time to manufacture and produce, and you need to know what seven riders are going to be in them before you even start! You can get around that by going retro and chucking them all race bibs, but it isn’t ideal. It’s surely too late in the day for Ipswich? Not only has Louis got to agree a sale, the new people will have an awful lot to do in a very short space of time to get them to tapes in March/April. Not only all the red tape and administrative stuff, legalities, sponsorship, team manager, track man? Presenter? And an actual team of riders. Odds against I’d say but hope springs eternal.

Didn’t someone say Brennan was Sheffield bound? @PhilTheAce I think??

Media wise absolutely. Knowing the inside info of Speedway clubs’ signings, especially these days, I’m not convinced. No malice intended and as I’ve said, Steve is a sound fella and well respected, but I can’t ever recall him calling a correct signing on here before or breaking anything that wasn’t already known. Anyway, let’s hope @RoundTheBoards is correct and a deal is done for Ipswich to come to the tapes. The sport desperately needs them it’s as simple as that. Let’s also hope that Flagrag was correct and Ipswich have a top number 1 GP rider and a competitive team. Having lost Doyle (for now) and Emil to the League, it will be a boost to get another top liner over here.

I believe very little either. There’s one or two you’d take notice of, but the majority you wouldn’t hang your hat on that for sure. In fairness to @flagrag , he’s a good sort and well respected in his work so I’ve been a little harsh here. It’s entirely possible he’d heard an early snippet of what Chris Louis was putting together before the proverbial sh!t hit the fan. Think it’s safe to say that whatever he’d heard early doors, is now highly unlikely to come to fruition.

Oh but they do Shano. @flagrag said so. Cracking GP rider at number 1 👍🏻

There’s a world of difference between disclosing the intricacies of financials and delicate negotiations, and issuing general broader updates to keep supporters loosely in the loop.

Well no not at all. It was Louis himself that didn’t do what you’ve suggested. HE was the one putting the timescale on a potential sale, so when that then come to pass it was obviously ramp up the concerns of the supporters. Why would he be “damned” if he now came out and told the supporters that talks were still ongoing? At least that would give the supporters something to cling on to. Alternatively, if it’s all gone t!ts up, tell them. At least it would put them out of their misery. Either way, an update of some sort should now be forthcoming. There’s concerned supporters out there waiting for news on a daily basis. Must be like pulling teeth! Supporters as always, treated like mushrooms.

This post from you flagrag is looking stranger by the day. How on earth could you claim to know the Ipswich team in early December when there clearly wasn’t a sale imminent, and Louis was off? Who had put this “team” together?? You’ve even gone as far as saying there is a great new GP rider at number 1! Who was/is it??

LOL stop being a wally. You wont name them because you haven’t got a ‘kin clue so stop pretending ffs. What do you think is going to happen to you if you name this mythical club? Do you seriously think they’re going to track you down, and take you to court for naming a club you’ve heard whispers about on the internet? Nothing more embarrassing than people doing the “I know something but it’s not fair to name them because it’s not my place. You wont name them because you know Jack sh!t!! Send me a PM with the name of the club, and I’LL name them on this forum for everyone else to see. You wont though will you, “Marky Marky”?

Interesting isn’t it that you’ll get people come on here being all cryptic with “the team I’ve heard is neither Northampton or Mildenhall” etc etc, but none of them will actually say what the mystery club is? Wonder why that is? Think we all know the answer to that 🙄

They will indeed. If Belle Vue retain Kurtz, Lidsey will be squeezed out. Lawson seems another, as does Becker. That’s without picking the bones out of Oxford and Birmingham although not many stand out granted. Musielak, Rew, Janowski maybe. So even a team that hasn’t even started to team build yet whether that be Ipswich or a mythical team that nobody knows about, could still build a competitive team almost by default.

I think it’s high time everyone stopped using the word “potential” regarding Ben Cook. He’s 28 years old, not some up and coming teenager. Nobody would use the word potential with Adam Ellis any longer and he’s only a year older. Cook has reached his level.

Don’t think anyone will be particularly bothered who wins next year. Stewart Dickson said in the SS a few weeks ago that he doesn’t really want next season to be a sticking plaster, but I’m afraid that’s exactly what it’s going to be. It’s a case of just limping along, keeping the wheels moving at tracks and hope that something better is in the works for 2027 when the league can be taken more seriously.