Teromaafan

I'll have some of that, hope you're right! If my sums are correct, that brings the team total to 42.3 points for the top six. Assuming the usual 2.5% team building reduction for Brits, that brings the total down to 42 points, which is what some have mentioned being the new limit. What could go wrong!

According to the SGB website, Dickson will team manage at both Leicester and Berwick next year, which would suggest the clubs will be in the Premiership and Championship respectively. Stewart took a lot of stick for the Lions falling off a cliff this season, but I still believe he is the right man for the club and obviously has the backing of the new owner/s (whoever that is).

Pairs league teams with 30 teams is being considered at the next AGM apparently. Conscious of the sport’s integrity in this country, there will be no guest facility for injured/ unavailable riders. Absences can only be covered with rider replacement, with no rider allowed to take more than one R/R ride. So, no guests, no doubling up, hats off to the sport’s hierarchy.

That’s a very sensible proposal you have put forward. Maybe someone from the BSPA will read this. If, on the off chance they do, they will no doubt nod and then stick their head back up their rectum.

For a single league comprising say 14 teams, the current doubling up situation (which has now got totally out of hand) between the Premiership and Championship is a major problem. One league won't be able to accommodate doubling uppers. So for every rider currently riding for two teams, another new rider has to be found. That's a lot of riders and where are the extra ones coming from. On top of that, there is the possibility of a few current riders who may consider that they can't make the sport pay without doubling up and consequently quit the sport. A rider could have 40 league meetings plus play-offs and cup competitions in this last season. A league of 14 would provide 26 meetings (plus play-offs and cup competitions), assuming that teams only play each other once home and away.

Wow. The outcome I predicted……….not! Hats off to the patched up Tigers who made Emil and Doyle look ordinary. Some statement! I’m as guilty as anyone when it comes to giving British Speedway a good kicking with regard to its set up and operation, but tonight’s meeting was right up there with a last over outcome in white ball cricket.

Looking forward to my final speedway fix on TV tonight. Whilst all us neutrals would like to see the aggregate outcome go down to the last couple of heats, I just cannot see Sheffield producing enough race winners. They need at least five more heat advantages than Ipswich. If Emil & Doyle are on it, the rest of the Witches won't need to do very much.

Very well put!

If you're referring to my post, I used the word 'rumours' not 'news'.

So for your post to have any credability, you will announce the owner/s here before its made public? That's basically what you are saying.

So you will let us all know when its official (and the information becomes public). Thanks for that.

Most things are already agreed for 2024 next month just rubber stamps things, expect minimal changes. If that's the case, I'm assuming that Leicester would remain in the Premiership, but confirmation would needed from the new Lions owner. So, does anyone have reasonable source rumours on the new owner/s?

As a Lions fan it’s still difficult to come to terms with the fact that Ipswich made the play offs due to an inept performance from us at Peterborough. Putting on my sensible hat though, I really could not see the Lions ( in their current form / predicament) doing Belle Vue over two legs as the Witches did. Watched the meeting at the NSS stadium tonight and just enjoyed the racing as a neutral. The Witches big guns delivered in the final heat and as a speedway fan, they have to be applauded.

…….A track would come in handy too!

Despite their own injury problems, the Aces will be desperate for this meeting to go ahead, despite the apparent uphill battle against the weather. An opportunity to take on an Ipswich side without Doyle is there to be exploited.

I think ‘Paint it Black’ covers British Speedway nicely.

Totally agree with all posts so far. Professional, talented and sincere. Please don’t tell me he is also kind or has a great personality as I could possibly hate him! Seriously, British Speedway is very fortunate to have him.

We are told that several parties have expressed an interest in taking over the Lions next year. Does anybody know if Chapman is one of these by chance?

Honestly, Laguta takes the p*ss so often he ought to be part of the drug testing sample team!

Sounds about right. In the NDL it seems that 4 hours is the minimum that promoters should allow for when you factor in crashes/stoppages/re-runs etc which are all too frequent at this level.

Whinging toad, seems to be ruffled too easily. I understand he runs a pub, but I bet they’ve never had a happy hour.

Agreed. But then again you or me might have done a better job than Hemsley, Norris Allen and Jim Lynch. Can’t believe that the latter once said that he just wanted riders to go out and enjoy it. Great motivation…….if you are in charge of an Under 7’s Sunday Morning football team. The current GB manager never really impressed when he was here either. It didn’t escape my notice when Steady picked Ellis for GB in the World Cup (nothing to do with the Sheffield connection I’m sure) where he looked out of his depth. It can’t be that difficult to pick the best four in form riders for such an occassion. Without saying a word, he has confirmed that this was a mistake by releasing the same rider from the club he manages!

Here’s a thought. Assuming that the Lions come to tapes next season (pray that they do and I don’t think that many people have a strong preference for either league), with new owners, would Dickson be asked or want to manage the team? Would supporters want him at the helm? If he isn’t here for whatever reason, who else would be suitable to take over? There is a very experienced man currently managing at a West Midlands track which may not be there next season. Although he only smiles every eclipse or by appointment I personally wouldn’t mind him at Leicester. What do others think?

Exactly, did the double. Thought Dickson was going to be the Pep Guardiola of speedway at that point. Only the lack of a Saudi investor got in his way. (Just off to get my coat).

I've generally been quite supportive of Dickson because he is a winner (except this season!) and although his team changes have been ruthless, it is his job to deliver a winning team and managers have to make decisions. Much has been made of the Morris situation and blamed for the team's slide. The fact is he was unavailable from that point on and that could just as well have been due to an injury. So regardless of the reason, an immediate replacement was required. Although it didn't work out with Batchelor, I would not be critical of the one in one out swap made at the time. It was the next team change where I think Dickson has to hold his hand up. Double changes (usually dictated by team points limit) are risky and they must not weaken the overall 1 to 7 team strength. Worrall is no better than Harris and Cook was a massive gamble (he has never had a sniff of an opportunity elsewhere). As other posters have highlighted, other teams have brought in GP (or that standard) riders when making changes. Okay so that might mean having to accommodate a 3 pointer at reserve, but the team has clearly lacked top end support for Fricke. That said, for all we know, it is possible that Dickson tried to go down that route but the owners couldn't/wouldn't finance it.