Crump99

Not forgetting that the charge (under Colin Horton, say no more squire) was originally sold as the club's contribution to the SRBF. That was soon forgotten as it was merged into running costs with the usual shambolic stadium collection

Seem to be AWOL from the website: MAIN TEAM SPONSORS - TO BE CONFIRMED - WATCH THIS SPACE.. so looks like a good initial spot

Could have put TBC - that'd get it's own thread and 20 pages

If there's nothing to say then say nothing is often the best policy but there is usually no smoke without fire and they'll all be aware of the speculation. A general news item of some sort that incorporates the topic wouldn't be too difficult to put together.

Don't see the problem. If it's run badly it'll be his pocket and reputation taking a big hit whereas the punters can just spend their money elsewhere.

After discussions with whoever then the text could be as out of date as the picture but thanks anyway.

Most interesting thing there is the omission of T Balfe construction in the team listing on bottom right.

Basically agree with the sentiment but good luck at maintaining interest and attracting new regular or returning fans with that fixture list. Speedway is a mess and the EoES may also say do one in the summer but naff all from July 15 until September 5 (currently the last programmed 2019 fixture) is beyond a joke.

He's had bells ringing in his ears for years and that's bound to have an effect.

Means little without the detail so needs to be taken with a pinch of salt tbh.

Unfortunately that's your good self on this one. My negative friend is correct

If it's short term (ie. for 2019 with a view to lessen Chapman's club influence after) to keep the top league going and keep the profile of the sport up via BT then I think that it can be justified. It may or may not work but I can't see the harm in trying.

The team was publicised as subject to BSPA approval so if that was the case then it'd be easy enough to say as such and fans would have understood as long as it wasn't via a made up ruling. It was communicated for financial reasons and the BSPA as a whole do not control individual team budgets as far as I'm aware.

The whole problem with that assumption is that a team suddenly appeared and an immediate look by those controlling the purse strings said that the sums didn't add up. However, it was a drip feed of signings and then a press release of a full 1-7 that was well received by fans. It then took a further month to then realise, allegedly, that the sums don't add up. Something else might have come out of the woodwork which did indeed need a financial decision but it can't be a surprise that few are buying it so to speak. Whatever the reason though, it's standard speedway of rubbish communications keeping the fire burning; being a big secret for the majority with a minority seemingly knowing more but never putting their head above the parapet then, shock horror, the whispers are confirmed.

Not having that given that Rathbone is one of the few promoters who appears competent and well capable of running within an agreed budget. We assume that the budget was agreed and the team was then publically announced so at what point was it realised that the agreed sums don't add up and a difficult decision was needed. Also, given that you're (not you personally) trying to keep the interest ticking along and appear transparent then communications lockdown is not the way to meet that objective IMO. Having said all that, it is what it is and I can live with it for now. As long as we don't get any more surprises then the team will still be worth watching at the EoES.

I think you'll find that when the team was named there wasn't a negative post to be seen and that was despite the owner. You need to ask yourself what changed? Yes Panthers may have supporters who pay their money year on year and tell it as they see it but why give them ammunition in the first place if you know what sort of return you'll get. Most Panthers fans want the stability they had for decades rather than the running or not hokey cokey we seem to get every year. Is the current set up going to deliver that? Who knows. We've also experienced the negative impact of dual ownership when Horton took over Oxford (Remember the Cheetahs?) so you can appreciate (well it appears not) some concern. As I said, the 3 tracks need to be operated independently, equally and without owner interference then they all might prosper and progress beyond being the gang of 3.

Well you did it twice in one post, firstly by the way you wrote the post and secondly not realising that Europress meet your criteria.

He could have asked Mick Bratley (who's on the scene now with HA around, for the moment anyway ) what to do and not to do at Peterborough.

We've been through David Hawkins, Colin Horton, Mick Horton twice and the Frost shenanigans so we're pretty resilient. Bloody need to be this time I think!

The fact that it wasn't addressed straight away would suggest that money is a red herring unless rumours of other similar issues come true.

True. The problem being of course that the situation was always going to be a dogs' dinner and nobody is surprised. As we know, there will be no transparency or effective communications around this that the paying public will believe, so rather than put it right it'll no doubt be some sort of fudge and kicking the can down the road which is very topical at the moment.

Better sorted before you put out a press release with your team for the coming season I think. Cowboy operations and communications will fail irrespective of the timing. We've had plenty of experience of that.

It's not that bad yet Rodders but needs sorting out with some leadership pdq before it really turns sour.

Not really, but considering Chapman blew a gasket over that then he'll look a bit of an arse if overly involved in this cock up. I can't ever recall nobody taking responsiblity for Panthers issues but nobody cleary wants to be associated with this. We get a nameless press release and "A Panthers spokesperson said:" - I'd prefer Panthers supremo, at least that meant someone!

Good luck with that. As with all speedway press, concentrate on what it doesn't say. For the majority of the time the PR is accurate but when something creates a stink then there's usually a reason for that and the reality is rarely as reported. That's just my strategy and I'm not saying that it applies here.