Teromaafan

Yes I was at the meeting. My comments regarding track preparation were based on what I saw upon arrival (about 1.30pm) from hands on grafters/volunteers, not decision makers who would have over all responsibility for track work prior to that time and I agree that an hour delay is poor. You make reference to a first class surface, were you there! Rain did not really come in to the equation until heat 15 and up to that point the track was as good as it had been all afternoon. Rain fell heavily for the last race which was unfortunately decisive but I don't see how inadequate track preparation relates to a last heat decider outcome?

Lions are supposed to roar, but this lot too frequently prefer to roll over and have their tummy tickled. The optimism associated with the new takeover is rapidly fading based on what I witness from spectators sitting near me. To put today's performance into perspective, Rye House haven't mustered a point to date on the road but hadn't of course been to good old 'Speedway Charity' Leicester had they? So what's the answer, more changes? I do appreciate that options are very limited. Last time Lasse Bjerre went through the revolving door he met himself coming in. As fragile as we may be, incoming double upper changes are not a good idea as we seem to be struggling to field our own seven on too many occasions as it is. Whilst we have a had a couple of good spankings of late, we have also thrown away decent leads in matches home and away. When leads slip, we clearly do not have big enough guns to deliver and pull us back in heats 13 & 15. Although I have not recently stayed to listen to the team manager's post match comments/excuses, I do recall Jim Lynch publicly saying early in the season that he just wanted riders to enjoy riding away without pressure, but should look to deliver the goods/entertainment at home. So when can we expect this home delivery, can it be tracked like with Amazon? At least 'subtle as a brick ' Norrie seemed to care. Looking at the bigger picture, it yet again has the hallmark of a club (and its uncertain future) assembling a team from leftovers. Regardless of what could have possibly been done in terms of pre-match track preparation today, hats off to all involved on the day for attaining a reasonable track surface.

Stop making me laugh when I'm trying to have a good old fashioned rant! If I can't get anyone to replace me, the promotion are apparently going to exercise/enforce the supporter replacement facility which equates to other supporters paying increased admission and they will also be expected to spend more on refreshments etc to cover for my absence. Anyone smaller than me who can demonstrate a strong appetite on the night could of course be encouraged to consume up to seven burgers, with the possibility of two minute buzzer allowances introduced between burgers if necessary to ease digestion.

Lions were woeful tonight. Continually out gated and when we weren't, passed (often) without much resistance. Three away team riders unbeaten by an opponent! can't remember anything like that before (and I go back long enough to draw on plenty of dark days!). Whilst we were up against the league champions, who admittedly appear to be an even stronger unit than last year, the manner and margin of defeat at home is unacceptable from a promotion that vowed at the start of the season to send us home entertained. What makes this more frustrating is that we have come very close to a couple of away wins, although I can now see why the Lions have rolled over after being in front for large periods of these meetings. On the positive side, I got to see the (current 7) Lions without any guests or R/R which has become (and is likely to remain) a novelty due to the number of double uppers we have. I may not be available/bothered about the Rye House fixture and if not, I will endeavour to provide a guest supporter for my seat.

Any news or rumours on the team manager front? There is a very nice Italian guy who is looking for a team to manage without having to move house!

How many people on this forum have bought or will be buying season tickets? The obvious question to me is.......why? We (me and my son) have season tickets at Leicester City. The main reason is that if we didn't have them we would struggle to get tickets on a match by match basis. Over all, we also save a fair bit over the course of the season. Looking at the Lions website the season ticket prices have been reduced due to fewer meetings associated with Coventry's demise. If I were to attend all of the 14 league meetings (which I can't due to holidays, as I suspect will affect most supporters) and paid on the day it would work out less than the cost of a season ticket! The club states that the season ticket price includes KOC matches (only 1 guaranteed) and challenge fixtures ( of which there are none on the fixture list). Having never bought a speedway season ticket, I'm not sure that it entitles you to any other privilege over other spectators (such as a designated seat), but correct me if I'm wrong. So if the upfront financial outlay is only a nominal potential saving and the chances of being turned away on the night are beyond remote, what is the incentive?

So, new owner sorted, promoter sorted, team sorted, track soon to be sorted. Team manager? Let the rumours commence.

JCB sponsorship would appear to be a major coup although we don't know what their level of commitment will be. What better company could dig (pun intended) us out of the 5h1t left by the previous hierarchy!

Having only just got back into the sport recently, I wondered why the Stars club colours were blue and yellow. Back in the 70s, I remember them being green and yellow. Club colours are something traditional in any sport so would someone be kind enough to explain the reason for the change?

My last post was obviously not aimed at people like your self False Dawn! You are absolutely right with regard to Pepe Teromaa's stint with the Bees (I'd forgotten about Ila's little brother!). I'm now so mellow that I could cope with the odd defeat to the Bees as opposed to never seeing Brandon again! (Did I really just say that?).

Oh ffs I'll let you guys get on with it as I have a life to get on with. How many people/anoraks on here have arguing for the sake of it (hobbies and interests section?) on their CV?

I assume that most Coventry supporters are above the pathetic juvenile bickering on this thread. When I was a boy I longed for the day when my beloved Lions would be able to dominate the high flying Bees led by Olsen & co as I loathed the thumpings we seemed to be on the end of too often. After some 30 years we are competing in the same league again and I would be gutted if Coventry did not come to the tapes in March. Can't see how any 'grown up' would take any pleasure in the potential demise of another team in a sport which remains on its *rse.

I never thought I would be so disappointed as a Lions supporter to hear that the bees may not be at the tapes for next season. Despite the memories of us being regularly stung (pun intended) in the Olsen era, I was looking forward to the local derbies following our return to the top flight of the sport. Everyone accepts that the sport is on its a*se and if anything it's local derbies that are likely to generate the most revenue from gate receipts. Put simply, the sport needs Coventry Bees and I hope that those involved at the business end can resolve matters in time for next March.

Inevitable that Poole would pounce for him on that average with Lions pressumably not in a currently in a position to negotiate. Starting to get a bit twitchy in view of the lack of takeover announcement news and the knock on effect of not being able to recruit whilst other teams seem to be pushing on with signings. Ever been food shopping at 5.00pm on Christmas Eve?

Sounds promising, I assume No.1 relates to their average as opposed to the first signing, just asking.

The Coventry averages listed on the first page add up to 50.39?

Whilst trying not to appear negative, delays on a takeover announcement seem to be based on the AGM date, but interested parties will surely have been involved long before this. From the outside, the longer the wait for the announcement of the new management set up, the weaker the team will be due to rider availability/willingness to sign up for the forthcoming season. Sounds pessimistic but I have been a Lions fan (since 1974) through thin and thinner and still remain to be convinced that we will be competing in the (watered down) top flight of the sport next season.

Like the new attempt to supposedly simplify and level averages which the sport is obsessed with. The EL converter though puts Doyle on nearly 13.5 points per meeting. To my knowledge the CMA has always been based on points per ride (with or without bonus points) multiplied by 4. JD's position therefore seems a bit like a goalkeeper averaging less than nil goals conceded per game! So is this just purely for initial team building and a new average will be come into play after say 6 meetings ( with the team building average discarded), or are we still looking at rolling averages where these initial figures would come into effect?

The meeting will go ahead on 22nd October. Kings Lynn have actually agreed to a cycle speedway match at BP. The start time will be brought forward a few hours as it is anticipated that races will take in excess of five minutes. Although the meeting length will increase by several hours the management will only double admission prices to ensure that 'pounds per race minute' remains good value. Team line ups are yet to be confirmed as riders need to confirm their availability once TV schedules have been confirmed for that night. Taking the piss? Hemsley started it.

Where has the rumour regarding the club being sold come from?

Three heat leaders contribute a total of 5, guest reserve bags more than double anyone else's score. Poole home win already a distant memory, roll on winter (followed by Premier League racing next year hopefully).

I go back as far as the early 70's with the Lions. Apart from the dreadful 1976 team, I can't think of a weaker (top flight) seven than what we have now. Can anyone recall a worse team than these two (sad when it gets to this I know)?

Love this rant! England 'never seem to win anything', not like our beloved Lions then? Can only assume you are someone's Grandma, so it would seem cruel to make any further comments on your post!

I thought the Bees got Olsen from from Wolves so what's with the payment to Hull? I might be old(ish) but don't recall Hull having a team in 1976? Seem to recall them hitting the big time on securing Mauger's services about 1977 though, perhaps someone could confirm.

As we walked back to the car park after heat 15 this evening we we followed by Mr & Mrs Hemsley making their way towards the bar. Heads turned when we heard Mrs H shouting quite loudly into her phone demanding that whoever was at the other end was to tell all the home riders and the team manager to meet in the bar after they were showered and changed. They were to be told that none of them could leave the stadium, even to depart for the airport, until they had finished the meeting. That seemed to be confirmation of who wears the trousers! Whilst the resulting was a little disappointing, I cannot recall seeing a home meeting with more passing than tonight. Whilst we all know we have a weak team, it would seem unfair to lay into anyone except Ulamek, as the others could not be accused of lacking in effort.