Shale Shaker

How can they be assigned, looks as though Cook has already bagged Adam Ellis?

I think it will do gates in the Premier League no end of good.

But if they were winning meetings for the team in the British league, then they become valuable among the British promoters and so they arguably would be able to start making demands. If their status rose on the world stage, they probably wouldn't be riding in the UK anyway under a strict points limit.

Exactly, under a points limit, surely the lesser rider's averge would rise even more quickly, and then they start to ask for more? What do you do then, keep reducing the points limit year after year, each time excluding any riders who have foolishly increased their average?

Oh ok, my mistake. Just wondered if there was anyone already connected with the club who might be a potentail buyer.

What has happened to co-promoter Nigel Hinchliffe, surely he has an interest in the business or is Machin the sole owner. Hinchliffe was writing a regular blog (Inside Line) on the website earlier in the season, but seemed to go AWOL after 3 or 4 months.

Is it possible that Sky (or whichever other TV company) is waiting until after th AGM to show their hand? If the leauges are set a a mor fiscal level, then surely they would be thinking of bidding less for the TV rights.?

So Starman, what you are really saying that Middlo can only be successful when he has superstar riders at his disposal. Does he himself blame the riders for the lack of success, or does he infact shoulder some of the responsibility himself. I ask again, do you really think he did a good job as manager during the SWC, yes or no?

Still no answer then. A simple yes or no would do.

So I'm perfectly qualified for the job, then. Please don't make assumptions about what I do and do not know about. Please answer the question I asked some posts ago: Do you really think that Middleditch handled and managed the team well during the SWC?

I agree to a point, but if what you are saying is 100% true then the NL would be getting higher gates than the EL, wouldn't they??

And the team manager has to be able to manage.

Yes I think I do. A team manager is like any other manager when it comes to handling his team members - or employees if you like. I know a fair bit about management as it happens - and Middleditch certainly did not fulfil his role in the way he handled the team selection for the WTC or the way he handled "dropped" team members. Putting aside the woeful results - do you really think that he could not have handled his team any better?

Yes a series of bad decisions which were badly handled by Middlo. He should have fallen on his sword immediately after the WTC.

I may be a bit pedantic here, but I see from the "Greatest Rock 'n Roll Band " thread, that one of your favourites seems to be Elvis Presley. Admired by millions, yet he was hardly virtuous when it came to this kind of thing was he?

What a strange thing to want to debate? Where would you like to see it fail?

Looking forward to it, then.

I find it hard not to be cynical about this type of thing. It just smacks of a Luncheon Club ..... all on expenses of course.

If the project is all going ahead, and coming along swimmingly, it would make a great idea for a feature in the Speedway Star, don't you think?

Planning permission never takes as long as this, even when the most inept councils are involved. And yet we are told that planning permission is "no more than a formality" - so really it should have been granted much quicker than the norm. I can't help feeling something is amiss, sadly.

So why is this information not posted on the offical site or Facebook page?

Hmmmmm!

I see Middlo is still in charge for GB vs Aus on Thursday at Sheffield. Seems to have picked a half decent team for Owlerton I think. Great Britain: Lewis Bridger, Ricky Ashworth, Josh Auty, Adam Roynon, Richard Lawson, Joe Haines, Kyle Newman. Team manager: Neil Middleditch Australia: Cameron Woodward, Rusty Harrison, Kozza Smith, Kevin Doolan, Dakota North, Cory Gathercole, Tyson Nelson. Team manager: Mark Lemon

Scott Nicholls - Rider / manager - that's one solution.

Why not check back issues of SS, I'm sure they must record attendance figures...............oh hang on!