Big Al

So the SCB take the opportunity to do something they may have been awaiting the chance of, for some time. Whilst the promoters license has been suspended, D.Hemsley as proprietor/director continues to control the company that runs speedway at Beaumont Park, but he can no longer represent the club at the governing body level. Unless he wants to blow his entire bond money, he's unlikely to relinquish that role and I doubt if the SCB has the power to strip him of it, either. Whether his conduct now makes him unfit to be a company director, could be another matter! So Leicester is left with Darcy and Machin as the BSPA/SCB approved promoters, but at local level Hemsley is effectively still their boss. That must now put Darcy and Machin in potentially a difficult situation. Would they want to continue, because if not, that would really cause a problem wouldn't it?

Case of muddle along till the season finishes, revolving door of riders at full tilt, then hope that some new and competent promotion & management come along (and it would involve DH being realistic about the selling price - if it's not gone bust by then, in which case somebody could buy it cheap). Then it would need to sport's admin and governing bodies, and the promoters in general, to come up with something better and suitable as far as the leagues is concerned. Leicester to make a sound decision on where to be within that structure. And finish the track re-vamp. If all that happens, there might be hope.

I've read the article in the Lakeside match programme headed "Lioness" (or something like that), it has a picture of somebody who I guess is Mrs Hemsley, so its fair to presume that she "wrote" it. There were obviously concerns over falling crowd levels. Well, maybe they have improved in the two meetings since it was written, I don't know. But what an utter load of whingeing tripe. Blaming everything and everyone. OK there was some substance, such as the LCFC factor, but anything about what's being done to try and negate those effects? No, presumably because the answer to that one would be "nothing". So were those words really those of Mrs or of Mr Hemsley? Or a joint effort? Not that it makes any difference I suppose. The way it appears, is that DH has abdicated, exited stage left, legged it from the scene of the crime like a drunk driver getting away from the accident he's caused, leaving his Mrs and others to try to clear up the mess and provide the alibis. Among those who have decided to turn their backs, are probably people who now realise the truth,that they have been fed a complete heap of bull, garbage about top riders apparently keen to sign for Leicester. When people realize they've been duped, they go away. It isn't just Leicester that's the problem of course. The Elite league is a sham because it's propped up by the so-called inferior leagues, so it's a wider problem. But the decision to join that league was based around personal ego rather than business sense and, like other key mistakes, involved the ignoring of good advice.

Well nothing so far that tries to answer the question, a presumably hypothetical scenario of an EL club dropping out soon?

Well the second bit's just not going to happen. More chance it will happen in the PL, in fact theres the makings of a decent PL side there at the moment, including Mr Watt maybe! Dont know about lines one and three - maybe. What's the breakeven attendance figure?

You have to question if carrying on riding is doing Watt any good at the moment, bearing in mind his recent personal issues. Also, coming into a struggling team isn't the best recipe, with the high rate of rider turnover Leicester has experienced since the crazy decision to join the EL was made. Ironic isnt it that Masters, who reportedly wanted to ride for Leicester but was (again reportedly) only offered PL money so went elsewhere, stuck the boot in.

Will save Leicester from another tonking....until the restaging. Makes you nostalgic for the later PL years, when Leicester had realistic chances of getting away wins.

I think its fairly common knowledge about DH being inclined to rant at people, but doing it whilst drunk as well.........

Presumably yes, if it's due to something like gross misconduct or serious breach of rules.

Will the BSPA let her? If they are as peed off with David Hemsley as some are saying, they won't want his wife and nominated successor to be the replacement. I don't know if she has a promoters license anyway?Much more likely that BsPA would want Neil Machin to be the senior promoter,but would he want to? So then it's a question of Dave Darcy being acceptable/wanting to. I think DH has bowled a bouncer at the BSPA by making this move and nominating his Mrs to replace him. And despite their shortcomings, even the BSPA should recognise it for what it is.

Just noticed that Jordan Road Surfacing has disappeared when the stadium name is given. So I guess that sponsorship is no more. Also, find it a bit strange there appears to have been no promotion, so far, of the scheduled Sky match v Swindon next week.

Not strictly true, it is on land leased from the council but there is probably quite a bit of leeway over race night although I understand that Cov still have a covenant over Fridays, and there could be issues with the nearby shopping centre over parking on certain nights. But yes, you'd think that a more pragmatic approach could have been tried, rather than the ostrich method.

I think in the PL, the track proved to be too technical for the lesser able and experienced riders to master, and this had a substantial impact on the quality of the racing. Thats how Magnus, when fully fit and in the right mood, could be invincible there, plus of course the all-important gating ability. If the early comments are anything to go by, the alterations made so far to the track may have made it less difficult, and providing the other bends get done, maybe it will become less of a daunting prospect for the less able and experienced guys, and enable them to ride it with more confidence (and I'm talking here about NL level and lower order PL level riders) and so offer better racing than was previously the case in the PL. The Elite League is struggling to maintain credibility, not helped by the atrocious decisions made during the winter by the promoters. Sky are (undertandably) apparently getting cold feet, and when Leicester joined the league in 2014, it was already on the slide. A bit like boarding the Titanic when the iceberg was already in view.

I'd be surprised if it provides for that much. More likely it helps towards running costs. Better than nothing, and it might help with efforts to encourage other companies decide to add some sponsorship. I get the feeling that Dave Darcy is a more pragmatic type than DH when it comes to business management??

.....would you like to elaborate further on what you mean by "got rid of" ??

Sack somebody just before she's due to leave to have a baby? Classy

I think the BSPA has realised the points limit was set a bit too high, but unfortunately that horse has bolted now - and it's wearing blue and white colours! Seem to recall David Hemsley wanting a higher points limit a couple of years ago - that would have been when he was still harbouring delusions about all kinds of "top riders" who he believed were queing up to sign for Leicester. How times change, eh?

You keep talking about DH needing to spend money, whether it is on riders or on the stadium and facilities.Do you think he has such money at his disposal, then? Do you have insider information about this? If not, I'd be interested to hear your thoughts about how he can go about raising this money, and the amount you think will be needed.

Looks like Paul Starke will be key........providing the 1-6 do what they can, and don't go getting injured all over the place or bugger off when other things get more tempting (but that's a very big "IF"). I don't think the No.7 is able to move into the 1-5, he's fixed at 7 for the season. Basically a side built within a tight budget, especially with no main sponsors at the moment. Makes you wonder how they could have afforded Doyle this season anyway. Heats 13 & 15 could be a problem against several teams.

Good luck with getting those drains done!

But what about this supposed squad system? Could Stead be included as part of this (whatever it actually consists of!)? ........as for a younger Dane.......Nicki Pedersen's younger than Ulamek and Walaszek isn't he? But has Anders Thomsen been under consideration as a possible? Many "experts" tip him for big things in the future. I know he probably wouldn't be anything near to a heat leader to start with, but at least he'd be likely to make progress and provide that sort of interest alongside of Wozniak

Six months ago, Leicester City FC were 5000/1 to win the football Premier League. Today they are favourites to win it with most bookies. But it would have to be odds of 10,000/1 for me to even contemplate parting with a two pound coin to bet on Leicester Lions for 2016 Elite League champs.

It's probably all down to bargaining now, and whats the lowest offer that any rider involved will accept, with the Saturday/Poland factor taken into account within that equation. Someone like Bjerre will have asked for way more than Leicester are willing to pay, it will eventually come down to whats the least he'll accept and will Leicester be prepared to meet him partway. Just another question ---- let's say just for now that Bjerre does eventually sign (reluctantly, I'm sure) ; who will be the team captain?

Can anyone here translate Polish? Ulamek's website has a page about his plans for the upcoming season, which features Wroclaw. When I hit the "translate" option, well as usual the English version was a bit bizarre. But it did come over a bit like he's riding for Leicester as a way of getting into things so as to be fully ready for the season ahead with Wroclaw. Hopefully this will include continuing to ride for Leicester after Poland gets going, and not being Peter Ljung all over again. As I said though, those translations can't be relied on too much.

Excitement!! Good grief, don't want any of that. Paying customers keeling over is absolutely NOT what's needed, each one would be another admission fee down. No - keep em all alive and breathing. This track change thing's risky enough Anyway - I think theres now only about up to 9 points left for the 7th rider.....so Doyle wouldn't have been fitted in anyway. what's all the fuss about??