Steve Shovlar

You won’t see a gathering even less so a crowd with a lineup like that.

No you were not!

I’m not posting down here. They’re not worthy!

£40,000 the main sponsor failed to pay? The reason why we remained with r/r for so long and our replacement was low key on the cheap. I really believe Matt saying the club was up for sale affected attendances. A lack of enthusiasm from the top filtered down to the fans. Well, if Ford can’t be bothered, why should the fans? A watered down league, not enough clubs for variation, the success of AFCB 5 miles up the road and it’s not difficult to see why crowds dipped. The best solution could well be one big league. Variation of opposition would help ease the issue of lesser quality teams.

Chapman buying Poole would see the end of the club pretty quickly as it wouldn’t be an independent and it wouldn’t wash. The current PL is dead. It was rumoured Somerset we’re considering moving back up but if Poole have dropped down they won’t make the move up as the local derby would have gone. Perhaps MikeBv’s idea has some legs in it. But an issue would be, what if the powerhouse teams were all in one region? What if, for example, Poole, Eastbourne, Swindon and Somerset were dominant? The playoffs should be the four strongest teams regardless of whether they are north or south. The four highest points scorers of the two leagues combines should be the playoff teams, and not two from each league.

Hardly a local derby. It’s 113 miles away! I don’t think it’s a good move at all. The crowd will drop at least 25% so no gain there. Add a drop to get in, as fans won’t tolerate £18 for an inferior product and there’s a shortfall already. With a 38 points limit we will be watching a couple of wobblers at reserve. This hasn’t been mentioned but I think the rise of AFCB has a link to one of the reasons why the crowds have dropped at Poole. Their success from about 4 years ago ties in as a direct possibility. There are some that used to post regularly on here that are now season ticket holders at AFCB who no longer attend speedway and have said they can’t afford both. I myself find it very disheartening. I heard the main sponsor fiasco cost the club over £40,000. Thats a huge missing lump to cover wages, rent etc. No wonder the club has found funds tight, leading to extended r/r with Worrall and cheap replacements. But is dropping down going to lead to a main team sponsor who is prepared to pay out for the privilege, in the knowledge that his or her company is not going to get any TV coverage? Unless Eurosport, who we hear have put a decent TV deal on the table, are willing to spread their investment over all leagues, there’s no piece of the pie to be snaffled up. The Premier league is not a viable league with 6 clubs. Everyone can see that. So, either Matt Ford has a ploy to get Chapman or another to buy the club to take the PL back to 7 clubs, or alternatively it’s to crash the PL so that all clubs have to sit down together and form new leagues, with a decent amount of clubs in whatever format to make it more attractive to the fans. Swindon and Poole are good rivals. Love going up to Blunsdon. Swindon will miss us badly. Instead, as it currently stands, they will see 5 other teams in 2020. Never going to work and we all know it. And currently no club is going to come up to replace Poole. I personally don’t believe a regional league, north and south, with playoffs (2 from south 2 from north) is a viable or sensible concept. The U.K. is a small country. Wolves north or south? Birmingham north or south/ Belle Vue to Monmore is just over an hour but they could be in different leagues? Not going to work. Perhaps a year of one league would be a way forward. I see that would be 27 riders short, due to doubling up. But it can be covered. NL reserves. Or, if there is decent TV money, entice a few young Swedes and Poles over from the lower leagues. Experience gained over making a wedge. Eurosport would surely like a league 20 + over a league of 6. Sorry for length of post just thinking and typing ideas as they come into my head.

It should be 25% cheaper to get in. Matt Ford said cost are 25% less. So instead of £18 it should be £13.50 next season.

His profile says Somerset/Poole but he is not a Poole supporter.

Absolutely. You are also forgetting Harris who was simply useless. In the second semi at Ipswich Holder and Kurtz were woeful, put off by a deep track and not even attempting to disguise their thoughts of conditions. We were rightly beaten.

Rubbish idea. Sorry.

Thought Perks likes to think of himself as an Aussie.

That is true. But it shows how not up for it Ipswich were when Perks passed and beat Harris. Your team were woeful and waived the white flag on the parade.

Your boy did brilliant Jonny. He’s coming on good.

Your team were an utter embarrassment last night. Swindon are going to run riot tomorrow.

Exactly. He’s like Shanes. Never gives up. But doesn’t score many points. However last night he showed the difference in attitude between the teams. He passed and beat Harris with determination and grit. Something Ipswich didn’t have last night.

Your team were worse than pathetic last night. No fight, no aggression. Rolled over and croaked. A shameful effort. Swindon are a better team but the way Ipswich rode was weak and useless. Worst final ever for the neutral? Absolutely! Gavan trying to deflect from his teams embarrassing showing by attacking me Lol! Perks beating Harris from the back sums it up perfectly. Fire and guts from an inferior rider.

Well if Swindon fans aren’t celebrating now it’s ridiculous. I should imagine you can’t get odds on Swindon winning. 5000/1 on?

Think tonight will affect the attendance at Swindon. There’s going to be a good crowd but it will totally lack any drama or tinge of tension. Some will stay at home and watch on TV. Swindon deserved winners this year. Have been since Jensen came in. Swindon 61 Ipswich 29.

No. Not IMO. The 2012 team would mop these up.

I am not bitter in the slightest. Why on earth should I be bitter?

I certainly would be happy to see the back of him over the winter. Not half the ability of his elder brother.

Poole v Wolves 2004. Wolves 41 Poole 49 Poole 63 Wolves 30

Can’t you actually see it was just a bit of light hearted banter? Other than that I agree fully with you.

Always was going to be. I think we would have put up a better fight but would have still be comfortably beaten over 2 legs. Swindon too strong this year. We can take comfort knowing we pipped them to finishing top, not that it really meant anything.

Ipswich “old fogey” Witches. Men against boys. Trouble is the boys wanted it more.