Aries

Disagree I’m afraid Jason. Why couldn’t he reassure the supporters that there will be Speedway next year? The fact is, his latest interview a week or two ago, he couldn’t guarantee that when pushed. Why couldn’t he say that he wanted to sell the club (no problem, his choice), but if no buyer came forward in time, he’d continue to run it whilst a buyer could be found for the longer term? Just like the Bates’ have done at Sheffield?? Instead, he’s gone on local radio and caused unnecessary stress to a lot of loyal supporters, by not confirming there would be speedway next year, all whilst jetting off to sunny Australia for a nice sunny Holiday with family. Just before Christmas too, nice! Anyone who has been a regular at Foxhall over the years, will know Margaret and her Daughter, Heather Lay. Two huge servants to Ipswich Speedway over decades. Working tirelessly selling draw tickets and helping running the supporters club over many many years. I caught up with Heather towards the end of the season and we had a chat. She was quite openly telling us that Margaret wasn’t in the best health these days and was struggling to get about. But she STILL makes a huge effort to attend Foxhall every meeting. She said if it wasn’t for her beloved Witches, she’s not sure she’d “still be here”. I wonder how they’re feeling right now and looking forward to Christmas? They won’t be alone either. For a lot of people, it’s not just something to do on a Thursday evening, it’s become a massive part of their lives going back decades. They’ll all be feeling worried sick that their Speedway is about to be taken away, just as Christmas is approaching. Look at the reception they got at the Town hall a few weeks ago. It’s was pi$$ing down, it was a lunch time, and was announced at short notice. And the people of Ipswich turned out in great numbers to celebrate, along with the Mayor. There’s great people who work at the club, most voluntarily, loyal sponsors who have backed him to the hilt financially, and of course, a core of loyal supporters. All been left totally in the dark and wondering what on earth is going on. I can only imagine how annoyed fans of Wolves, Arena/Lakeside , Peterborough, Swindon, amongst many others must feel, who have seen their speedway taken away from them due to track unavailability, see another club potentially not running despite a viable club and available track just sitting there. Ok, it may well break in the next days/weeks that he’s successfully sold the club on, OR, he’s staying and will continue to run it, but that won’t change the fact that he’s handled this very poorly. In my opinion! Obviously.

I was giving him the benefit of the doubt early doors, but my patience with him is wearing thin. I’m incredibly disappointed in Chris Louis.

He’s hardly retirement age is he? Look, he gave an interview on local radio post play off success, stating that the hard work was already underway in building “another title winning side”. He was in a jovial mood after winning the league. There wasn’t a sniff of this happening and we’re talking only a few weeks ago. Let’s have it right here, he’s gotten the hump over something recent, probably the meetings running up to the original date of the AGM where things haven’t gone the way he wanted. Have they gone the way the other clubs/promoters wanted? Of course not! I’d bet NONE of them particularly want to run a five team league!! But they’re all prepared to battle through what is, to keep a Premiership going. All except the owner of arguably the most well supported, stable club in the Country.

Flagrag also said we have a “great new number 1”. Anyone’s guess who that is. I’d just like some confirmation that we’re running first!

TBF he tried when Buster agreed to buy Ipswich and take them up to the top flight when the top division were desperate for another team. As we know, Buster then backed out of that deal weeks later when it was too late for Ipswich to remain in the Championship..

Yeah, not for me that.

Jason Edward’s immediately popped in to my head because of his Ipswich links. Rising star in the Premiership, 6.50-7.00 point man in the engine room of a Championship side.

I think they’d all be aware that IF a sixth team is magically brought in, those riders already “lined up” will have to be unlined up! They’re all going to have to accept it’ll be their collective responsibility to help build a competitive sixth team. They’re all going to have to work together on that one and release a rider or two each that they’d already pencilled in. Can you see that happening? No me neither really as self interest rules, and has always ruled. But MAYBE, this winter has shocked them all in to relenting on that self interest and they’ll all change the habit of a lifetime for the benefit of the sport in this country.

Still think Rew would be great around the NSS Phil. A lot more to come from him.

Bizarre. I never thought I’d see the word Brennan and “dirty” in the same sentence either. If anything I’d say he’s the polar opposite! Far too nice and needs more aggression on track. All very strange and it’s not one or two posters either, seems to be all of them that post on here! Sheffield for ya I suppose 😛

Incorrect. Try conned!

Buster and co, with a “buy back” Clause is the latest doing the rounds. Wonderful.

Really surprises me this. Any particular reason I’m missing why Brennan is seemingly not popular up Sheffield way?

Word is Fricke is Lynn bound.

Think he’s probably everybody’s favourite Brit. Seems a cracking lad.

If there’s still uncertainty around Ipswich’ continuation, you can’t blame the riders for going elsewhere. They all want their future sorted which is understandable. Ipswich are left completely rudderless at the moment and that’s all down to Chris Louis I’m afraid. Cheers Chris.

You sure Ipswich are running Phil? 🤣 That’s our complete top three gone!

Ipswich, Lynn, Sheffield and Leicester. Ipswich have already lost their top two, Sheffield rumoured to have lost Jack Holder. If Belle Vue retain at least one, or both of their big hitters, it’ll be a big advantage obviously. Especially as they could now be on “cheap” averages, because the competition they had this year whilst achieving their current averages, will be missing.

Can’t argue with any of that really. All very vague isn’t it.

“Premiership allstars” I like it, and I think I’d get behind them and back them for the title 😁

This gets trotted out time and time again, and it STILL doesn’t make any sense. Even in a cr@p five team league, if you get a standout team that hits the ground running and opens up a big gap early doors, EVERY meeting very early becomes meaningless, even for the club running away with it! With play offs, of course every pre-play off meeting isn’t meaningless, what on earth do you mean? Most clubs will be in with a chance of getting there right up until the end of the season! Of course there’ll be one or two who’ll cement their play off place in good time, and you can then say their remaining fixtures could be pointless. But play offs keep more teams interested and in the mix for longer, than just having the top team as champions. That’s surely obvious.

Looks good away as well if the others end up like we’re half expecting!

37 for top 6, plus a rising star with same rising star criteria as recent years.

Personally think it MUST include Ipswich Phil. If it doesn’t, we’d have heard more concrete news on a new track if they have a currently guaranteed 5 starters. Waiting game goes on unfortunately. Edit: what I will say though, is the current five shouldn’t be completing their teams just yet. They should all have a collective responsibility to help a possible sixth team come to the party and be competitive. If that means a certain team not including a rider they wanted, so be it. It’s no good bringing a sixth team in late in the day, and everyone else has hoovered up the worthwhile riders that still want to ride here leaving that team trying to cobble together a team of misfits. They’ll inevitably finish bottom, the crowds won’t come and it obviously won’t end up being successful. Someone will always finish bottom yes, but you don’t want to see anyone bottom and totally uncompetitive and getting a hiding every week. They need to try and make all six (if it is to be six) as equally matched as possible.

This is true, but Flagrag’ description of a great new number 1 who if he can master the track could push him on in the GP’s, describes Bewley to a T. Can’t think of another GP rider that fits that description better. *please don’t mean Jack Holder 🙏🏻