Ben91

Absolutely pathetic news from the AGM. Expected though. This sticking plaster announcement could have been made in November. They've been sitting on their hands for the last two months it seems waiting for a television deal to ride in on a white charger. Nothing about the shambles the sport is in now and how they hope to change it mid to long term, no transparency. Looking forward to things being even more grim this time next year and yet another bodge it AGM taking absolutely no accountability for the shower of sh** that is British Speedway nowadays.

The state of the sport makes this a quite exceptional case. If he were a footballer and he wanted to return to playing there would be a club somewhere that would overlook his off pitch discretions for the sake of having his talent on the pitch. Even if that meant dropping way down the leagues initially. If he were a snooker or darts player etc. he couldn't be stopped from earning a tour card and working his way back up the rankings. Speedway clubs are all in a pretty precarious position, it would be an immense gamble for anyone to take him on. He has done his time. Hopefully he has turned his life around and can contribute positively to society. I don't think that'll come astride a speedway bike.

The bloke has done his time and should be allowed to earn an honest living. It wouldn't do the sport many favours to ban him. His crimes weren't anything to do with Speedway or the integrity of the sport. They don't merit a ban from the sport. I would expect all clubs to give him a wide berth though, someone signing him would go down like a fart in an elevator. I certainly wouldn't want him to ride for my club knowing what he did, rehabilitated or not. I would also question how he's funding any comeback. We're regularly reminded of the expenses facing Speedway riders. If he's able to fund equipment then he has a source of income which means he doesn't need speedway. Speedway certainly doesn't need him.

@Chris Thanks for the update. Is this a group administered through Facebook or other social media? Would be nice to be able to keep abreast and help in any way towards a hopeful return for the Rockets but I don't do any social media.

Going to put a lot of points on his average in 2026 is he? Only way he'd be a second string in one big league.

It sounds like 2026 is going to be limping along as we were, not much more needs planning. Planning for 2027 should be well under way by now if the people in charge have any sincere interest in saving and reviving the sport here. The outcome of the AGM in January should be a long term plan, one that the fans are made fully aware of. It's easier to invest in another season of dross if there's a transparent plan for improvement in place and in full view for those who pay their way each week.

I do wonder whether this can be spun to a party line making it look as if the top riders bailed on Britain and that's why they've gone, not the indecision causing them to sign more secure contracts elsewhere. They jumped, they weren't pushed. The cynic in me can see Ipswich (for example) coming to tapes with a much weakened team and the justification that they almost didn't run at all so the fans should just be happy to have speedway at all. And undoubtedly the majority of happy clappers would swallow it hook, line and sinker.

Don't often agree with you @Aries but this is spot on. This isn't Ipswich specific, just my opinion in general. For me, a sports club/organisation exists for the fans first and foremost. There may be an owner/figurehead but everything always has to circle back to those who support the club. Without them there would be nothing. They turn up week in, week out. If they didn't then the club could fold. Seems a bit off that the person who they've been supporting and entrusted with the custodianship of their team can then just decide to pull the rug on them.

I'd like to know what is being put in place to ensure we're not in the exact same situation (but worse) in twelve months time. The number of clubs left makes one league more sensible. Clubs racing on a night that suits them also makes sense. What needs to be done is something to make that viable. The stumbling blocks all revolve around riders. Be it the international race nights which take preference and the lack of riders of a good enough standard to fill 14 teams without doubling up (impossible in one league). So there should be a big focus next season on getting British riders to a competitive standard at Championship level at least. A good pool of domestic talent will be important to mean sides can have carte blanche over their race nights (not a complete solution I'm aware). But, as we know the Championship teams are full speed ahead at building teams and there are no rules in place (rising star scheme for example) to promote British youngsters at that level. The Premiership isn't sustainable. The Championship sides haven't helped matters by not implementing a rising star scheme or similar. It needs to be changed for next season regardless of what has been signed already, or we're putting off change for good for at least another year. That's valuable time. Everyone needs to pull together in one direction for the good and future of British Speedway.

It makes perfect sense. A team who runs away with a league title without play-offs has won the title across the entire season. The best team over the season wins the title. It's the fairest way. A team can sneak into the play-offs at the last minute and win the league title due to late season form, possibly due to team changes, injuries elsewhere etc. With a league of only five teams, all bar one side qualifies. That renders all the league meetings next to pointless. Just don't be the worst side in the league. It opens the door to all sorts of average manipulation too. Meeting one should be as important as the last meeting of the season in the league campaign. Play-offs are often touted as good for TV. As it stands there is no TV and the whole play-off process makes the five team league even more tinpot.

Hear there's a new range of BSPL sticking plasters being released just in time for Christmas. A five team league is awful. With play-offs even more Mickey Mouse. Big change is needed (has been for years), nobody has the minerals to do it though. Easier to watch the sport die. Why should fans hand over their hard earned when all they get is treated with contempt. Hand over more money for a worse product year on year.

You're yet to prove you're right before anyone can prove you wrong.

Don't think they got as far as laying the pitch at Rye House. The track has been ripped up beyond recognition though I believe. Can't bring myself to venture over there to see what the state of the place is. Will mar some wonderful memories. A demise that was wholly avoidable too.

Competitiveness comes from teams of equal(ish) strength of course, not having a smattering of "world class" riders in the league. There's a "not enough riders" agenda whenever anyone mentions one league. The reality is that there are not enough riders of a suitable quality. It's not the same as there not being enough full stop. There are also not enough of these "world class" names to go around the top league in its current form. Hence having whipping boys like Birmingham and Oxford last season. The sport here wants to operate at a standard it can't sustain ultimately. A five team league is a horrible idea. It would be far, far too repetitive if the sides were to race a meaningful number of fixtures and then they'd probably still want to have play offs. Regardless of the quality of riders who might compete it would still be over exposure. Variety versus competitiveness has a sweet spot that it is probably impossible for British Speedway to meet in 2026, for me variety is more likely to make me go to meetings than seeing slightly better opposition but knowing they'll be coming to town again in a couple of weeks. And then again a couple of weeks after that. I suspect I'm not in the minority by having that opinion.

Looks an exciting side for Glasgow and two newcomers to British Speedway to boot. Goes to show there are other riders out there willing to come ride here. Applaud the promotion for sticking to their guns and not taking a bullet for the top tier.