HGould

Almost all Councils of all political persuasions have seen their central Government Grant slashed in real terms by 50% since 2010. Birmingham has had to pay out over £1 billion since 2012 after the 2004 to 2012 Tory led Council lost a Court case about pay inequality in 2010. Councils in Thurrock, Croydon and Woking already declared bankruptcy and they have got no Govt help and they are Conservative. Many other Councils on a knife edge too led by various parties.

It's very frustrating that one of the most obvious places for any new Sports Stadium in the area, which is adjacent to Birmingham Airport and the NEC, massive infrastructure, easy access train and motorway, no noise issues, massive advertising potential is mostly in the Council Area of Solihull and not Birmingham. A lot of land adjacent to M42, M6 and M5 and in the case of the M6 and M42 corridor lots of land laid waste by HS2 excavations. In fact mile after mile of it.

I think there is merit to that but with a rather massive caveat. Cradley fans didn't support Heathens in numbers at PB, they did at Monmore. Bees fans didn't support Bees at Leicester. Speedway in the West Midlands has always been very tribal. Soccer is probably more tribal in Birmingham and the Black Country as anywhere. Having said that Wolves have a good following, Brummies a hardcore of 500, Cradley had a similar hardcore a few years ago in last ndl season. We can only guess Coventry level. Romantically those clubs could return. Purely pragmatically and IF all 4 clubs ceased to exist, is there a left field opportunity? If Essex, Kent and Somerset can be branded for Speedway purposes, could West Midlands Midlanders be viable option at a central site??

As pointed out Ladbrokes (as we know them to keep it simple) are kicking speedway out of Monmore but keeping very lucrative Dogs as they are longstanding Bags track beamed round world. ARC who run Perry Barr and who own Wolverhampton Horse Racing Track are leaving PB and taking that operation to Wolverhampton Horse Racing Track. There ARC will transfer lucrative Bags licence from PB worth 65k a week I was told and run horses and dogs, already have hotel on site. Can't see how PB could run with Speedway only. How long ARC take to set up Wolves Dog track at Horse track will be key. I hope Nigel isn't relying on Regional Mayor Street, a jump on the bandwagon Charlie not a genuine campaigner. Might have more joy out of City Council who put on Commonwealth Games and at least didn't object to speedway returning to PB. If Council goes Tory though forget it, they'll develop anything not tied down by cast iron covenants. CVS seems positive about a Moto Park and Wolverhampton Council seem keen to help. Possibly more accessible land in Wolvo within proximity to M54 Junction by new Jag LR Plant.

Normal BSPL Staged Meeting pay rates of about 50 to 60 quid a point may have something to do with it.

Reckon Richie will be holed up in Cardiff with a few bevvies with the Worrall Clan ready for Steve's big night tomorrow. Don't think anyone would begrudge the family that.

With the shenanigans between Clubs swapping riders when sometimes under co-ownership under focus (Bates / Buster spring to mind) and the grim reality that we may be down to 12 to 14 Clubs, to many for one big league but not really enough for 3 leagues, is one answer in plain sight?? Collaboration has happened in Poland ans Sweden in the past between Leagues and in the distant past with Clubs like Belle Vue and satellite teams. What about the logic of say a 12 to 14 rider squad to race a higher league of 6 and a lower league of 6...or 7 clubs each division. Heat Leaders in top level and reserves in lower level would ride 1 league but a rump coukd ride both. There may be some obvious pairings Sheffield and Leicester Ipswich and Mildenhall Belle Vue and Workington Poole and Plymouth Others may need to be more contrived but to fit in with Clubs with bigger budgets and those who need to work to a budget. Clubs could retain individual promotion but collaborate within the partnership. It should reduce the need for random Guests and build te identity from within the group.

Good to see Eric Riss healthy.

You'd best hope you have something to moan about next season. Several teams won't and wouldn't be a complete surprise if you were whining about NORA.

When they were 16 in general comparison Leon was outstanding at 15 for Brummies. That said Leon and Tom I agree well ahead now but neither has kicked on YET in PL

Great news re Bandits and ongoing Acadeny Sad re Bullets but entirely understandable on economic grounds. Second teams for Clubs may become an unaffordable luxury if they can't break even in their own right. A lot will depend on what structure is for 2024 as its hard to see 3 tiers. More likely tiers of around 7 clubs each if we lose Wolves, Peterborough as already confirmed. Hopefully likes of Edinburgh, , Poole Birmingham, can find medium and longer term security of tenure or like Wolves new stadia. Also new Owners at KL and Leicester can be found as up for sale allegedly

A literal reading of the Plymouth website just updated is, we've got Worrall, Howarth, Pearson and Trigger and we'll let everyone know if we can rustle up a couple more. Probably RR,... Erm

I think those comparing with Bewley and Lambert at same age are doing the kid a massive disservice. He's more a Kemp, Brennan, Flint, comparison at the moment. He may be as good as them now in 3 years or he may smash the ceiling they haven't yet smashed. Time will tell.

No point signing anyone who has to fly in or out Air Traffic Control has broken. No flights. This shambolic Government turning us in to North Korea, oh.... at least they can keep people out... and in

I've heard different from an impeccable source. Not Lewy although I'm sure he has impeccable sources too..

Debbie knew a good rider when she saw one.

City Clubs who are competing with other sports and activities best served by delivering copy for morning of the event so its up to date, focused on that day and not lost in maelstrom of weekend reports, bank holiday noise and people enjoying outside time with families. Pointless doing it sooner as any reputable journalist or social media expert will confirm.

Would imagine Gary May is desperate to get a win. Let's be honest in any other Sport he'd have been sacked weeks ago. Any one building a team with Trigger in a CL team and Turner a 25 year old Antipodean with no real experience in UK deserves the boot. Hopefully Mark Phillips can keep Plymouth open for 2024 and find a better team manager and motivator.

Is he talking nonsense? Really? The reported facts suggest not. Nigel has been quoted in Speedway Star by the sponsors own journalists Lost a load last season Put more in this season despite saying he couldn't do it year after year. Said he needed 1000 to break even Average gates around 500. Publically stated earlier in season his company that makes badges is covering shortfall on a weekly basis. That's a lot of badges, does he supply Chinese Army and Indian Cricket Supporters Club. No obvious sign of massive new sponsor uptake. Maybe he has a wealthy sleeping partner(S) His own quoted figures suggest he is over 6 figures down and invested. It's impossible to knock the guys commitment but sanity and economics suggest he can't carry on year after year. As for a competitive team, we await one but that would just increase losses.

Anyone of a nervous disposition probably best not to look at weather forecast for next 3 weeks up to mid September. Very little prospect of anything but more rain in West and North and Midlands. Possible high pressure and drier after mid September. Cut Off extended to 30 September and revert to 3rd v 6th and 4th v 5th 2 legs and then semis 1st v first pick and 2nd v second pick anyone

Took Glasgows Barrister to get Craig Cook off initial penalties for the Eastbourne fracas in 2019 allegedly. He took 5 mins to pick up the fact that Vatcher had levied a penalty above his sign off limit and which should have had higher level joint authorisation. Poole are just jealous that Glasgow have exposed by the rule book. Takes some brass neck from Poole after all the stunts they've played over the years. No doubt right now Danielle Ford will be trying to persuade Management Committee to create a new rule to stop it. Be interesting to see what stunts the hairdresser plays next.

Someone mentioned the "wrath of the Grandstand" and Vissing? Would that be the Grandstand full of foul mouth unwelcoming 70+ men and women who welcome Away Supporters who just happen to sit in an UNRESERVED empty Seat who arrive a good 30 mins after you have innocently sat down with.. "Get out of my ******* seat" "I'll get the Steward to smack your face" "**** off back to the Midlands you Brummie ***t Who spit at you, shout at you, make the whole experience of visiting Poole Speedway an absolute nightmare. Bullying and intimidation, par excellence. Having travelled to many of the most unwelcoming football grounds in the UK and some in Europe, hand on heart, the vitriol and abuse directed at anyone not part of the gereatric disgusting cabal that meet and hunt there is perfectly summed up by some of the same dished out to anyone who dares challenging the bullying trolls who frequent this forum. Contrast that with almost every other Track in the UK where you can have fun banter, receive a warm welcome and actually feel valued and want to go back! I'll await the usual suspension as one of the Poole trolls contacts the mods.....frankly do I give a s*** .....er nope!

A lot of conjecture and guesswork on here - especially about fees. It was definitely suggested in an article last winter in the Speedway Star that AB was being mentored by Lewi Kerr and if so, probably getting some expert bike set up help from Steve Norman. That's a far bigger reason I think why he's chosen Oxford as he'll also know Peter Shroeck well too and not a long haul trip for him either. As for Poland - for god sake give the kid a break, at the moment he's promising and clearly talented but not yet the second coming of the Messiah!

Been spending too much time with Charles Wright??

I think everyone needs to give the kid a break. Especially comparisons with Bewley. Kemp and Brennan were averaging over 9 points in a far better NDL than now in 2018 aged 16 Kemp has plateaued, Brennan is a CL heat leader and PL second string occasional reserve. If Boughan is where Brennan is now when he's 20 he'll have done exceptionally well. I've seen him a few times, he reminds me of Gilkes in his early NDL career. Lots can go right, lots can go wrong and both Bewley and Brennan had the fortitude to recover from very serious injury. Good luck to the lad.