PhilK

According to todays Newmarket Journal, team should be announced in the next couple of weeks

Thats right mate, from the Official Mildenhall website - An Agreement Has Been Reached!! Thursday, 22 December 2011 17:28 The Mildenhall Promotion team and the BSPA have agreed staged payment terms that will see Michael Lee, Chris Louis and Kevin Jolly continuing at West Row. We are so relieved to get an agreement in place that finally enables us to finish our team building plans and build on what was a fantastic start to the project in 2011. With the 'Promotional Rights' bought and a payment plan in place for the National League Entry Fee, Fen Tigers fans can look forward to a more settled period in the clubs history and can rest assured, that we are even more determined than last season to bring pride and success to West Row. We intend to finalise the team as soon as possible and would hope that our fans will know the full line up maybe before the New Year. It's exciting times for us now that everything is in place and although the final agreement has delayed our Academy plans we are still keen to see it up and running during 2012 Merry Christmas

Taken from the Official Mildenhall website Further Update... Tuesday, 20 December 2011 20:21 The promotional team would like to keep all Fen Tigers fans up to date with regards to the current situation. "We have worked very hard to re-budget and re-schedule our payments and have made a request to the Management Committee with regards to payment terms of the Promotional Rights and National League Entry Fees. We have requested a stage payment of the Entry Fee that would see the fee paid in full by the end of August and would certainly help the cash flow situation at the beginning of the season. We would like to stress that the club to this day has not defaulted on any payments and the entry fee is only relevant to new clubs and or promotions and is a one off payment. It would however delay our plans for the Academy but of-course the club and its fans are the most important elements at West Row. The fans have been so very supportive and 2011 has been so much fun for everyone at Mildenhall that we promise to do all we can to fulfil our long term goals at the club........

Taken from the Official Mildenhall Speedway Site Statement From Mildenhall Speedway Friday, 16 December 2011 12:48 The Promotional team at Mildenhall are currently in dispute with the BSPA over an entry fee that has been levied to join the National League. It is very disappointing to have this additional cost put upon us in order to continue with our project at Mildenhall. There is no doubt that the Fen Tigers were the big success story in British Speedway in 2011, and it is very disappointing not to receive support from the association. To pay the additional fees would leave the club with a cash flow problem. When you consider that not a single penny was taken from the club this year to ensure that we could invest heavily in year two to get the academy up and running, with equipment for 12-18 year olds to come and have a ride, this news was devastating. We will be working very hard to convince the association that our project is worth supporting for the good of youth development in this country, and hope that some sort of compromise can be reached. We are four ex-professional riders still very much committed to the Mildenhall project, and will do all we can to ensure that it continues. It's very dissapointing that there seems to be an impasse between the BSPA and our Promotion at the moment. When Mildenhall returned in February alot was made by the BSPA of the Academy that was to be set up at Mildenhall, and rightly so! The promotion at Mildenhall had already at a fans forum explained their desire to find future British speedway stars and with their experience in the sport how they hoped to achieve it. It was obviously never going to materialise during 2011, as all available time surely had to spent on getting the Fen Tigers up and running for the National League season. Not only that but their were numerous other jobs that required their input, right down to putting up the fence with helpers on a Sunday! Now with the Academy ready to commence in 2012, and the promotion showing their seriousness and appetite for the Academy by not taking funds from last season out, but using it to purchase equipment to support the starting of the Academy, the BSPA throw a large spanner into the works. This was always looked at by the promotion as a long term project, and whilst I would not suggest that Mildenhall do not pay what is owed if this is the case, surely an agreeement could be reached where the payment is staggered over say the next two to three years to allow the Academy to commence sooner rather than later. This shouldn't be too difficult to resolve surely, if of course the BSPA are as keen to see an Academy start at Mildenhall as previously stated?

Oh well Pity though as Reade looked a promising and improving rider when I saw him at the end of the season, who I think would have improved considerably under the tutelage of Messrs Lee and Louis. Wish him well for 2012.

Maybe something along the lines of 1. Heeps 9.18 2. A Baseby 4.88 3. Owen 5.33 4. Neilsen 5.28 5. Blackbird 7.01 6. Halsey 4,76 7. Reade 3.00

Mason, Morley and Sargeant all sign for the Rye House Raiders on BSPA site

Dont understand your final comment, its not Stokes fault?? Stoke final GSA for their side was 47.10 according to the BSPA site, the limit for team building is 40. Something has to give to get within the limit for 2012. Webster and Sargeant total 14.90, so the that brings the total down to 32.20, so adding Worrall brings it back to 39.95. That suggests at least one more rider from the top five will miss out to enable a side within the team building limit. Unfortunate but thats speedway, and the price of success as Scunthorpe, Belle Vue and Mildenhall have also found out..

Would agree with that Mr Snackette, this would be perfect experience for the novice riders, before hopefully moving into Mildenhall's NL side and then when ready into Ipswich's PL team. I know there are one or two Mildenhall supporters who are no too positive about a Mildenhall / Ipswich link up but to me it is a perfect set up that benefits all parties

Both Heath and Dan Greenwood had shown plenty of promise prior to leaving the sport. Heath rode for Mildenhall in their 2006 CL side and looked to have potential. He then dissapeared from the scene somewhat but looked ok when racing at Mildenhall this season v Milton Keynes in a second half, although to be fair the opposition wasn't to NL standard. If he wants to ride this coming season I would think a few sides may be interested in him. Sam Woods has been riding in Denmark and I understand he has improved considerably for the experience

Neither have Elite League stars been gracing Foxhall for nearly 40 years Even if Aljack is refering to the top league he is again wrong, but there is a surprise!

Looking at the 2011 averages (Issue 26) for the 9 remaining NL sides, 7 of them are over the 40 point limit, 4 of them considerably so! With that the case, there are going to have to be a number of changes in the NL teams for 2012 and clubs will surely be looking for 3 point reserves that have potential to improve. Whilst there are riders around the 3 mark such as Widman, Blacklock, Stoneman, Freemantle, Mullins, Chessell, Andrews and Young plus the two most promising I saw last season Tom Stokes and Ben Reade. But there are not that many around so who will be the new 3 pointers for 2012? Possibly Tim Nobes at Stoke, but who else? Any suggestions?

Looks another good issue Tony Hopefully an interview with Mildenhall legend Bob Coles is in the pipeline for a future issue

Announced on Radio Suffolk this morning that Mildenhall's first signing for 2012 is Danny Halsey Great start to our team building, Halsey was in fine form at the end of the season in the Play Offs and the KO Cup.

If ever there was glory in defeat then today was the day! Those I stand with were all hopeful, no more, of holding onto our unbeaten home record. What followed was incredible, some brilliant racing as well despite the score. Mildenhall gave their all today, and to go down by just one point isn't easy to take, but when you look at what has been achieved this season, The KO Cup, an air fence, brilliant racing week after week, top presentation, and a team and promotion to be proud of, then we feel like winners to Mildenhall speedway has come so far since the dark days of last summer, and this is only the beginning. Congratualtions to Scunthorpe/Sheffield on winning the Play Offs, and I do hope you are back in 2012. The NL is a great product and would be poorer without you EDITED TO ADD: Just read Adz comments on the updates, and yes you would go a long way to see a better race than Heat 10

Great evening in the Potteries. After friday night the team bounced back and did the business. Back in early February I certainly couldn't have imagined a season like we have experienced Great effort by all involved to turn the club around. Brilliant to see so many supporters making the trip last night, and as Wag says respect to Stoke for putting on an excellent trophy presentation. Good to meet Vog and Bluejam, some excellent between heats banter Dean, Speedway, Real Ale and Punk rock quality mate

Just back and wanted to add my congratulations to Scunfield for an excellent performance. Apart from Cameron we had no answer tonight.

Certainly hope to be there Vog. Believe there is a coach full coming as well, so there should be a good atmosphere. For Mildenhall it has all come down to this weekend, we could win all, something or nothing Whatever it has been a great season and a major leap forward on recent times Difficult one to call, as were the other three recent meetings between the two teams! Will eight points be a big enough lead? Fingers crossed!

Haven't Kings Lynn Stars finished their fixtures for 2011?

Should be two excellent meetings, looking forward to my first trip to Scunthorpe this season. Hopefully there will be no dramas, injuries or weather problems, and a really good season in the NL will end on a high note Plenty of Mildenhall supporters are heading up to Scunthorpe on friday so there should be a cracking atmosphere! See you there Mr HT!

Excellent response Dean, but you are sadly wasting your breath with this one

Cant see any sense in your views for the NL To start there are plenty of 15/16 year olds who are ready for the NL, if not in some cases the PL or EL! What is the point of them riding in four rider junior teams?? Secondly at least four riders in each team, so three can be from where? Australia / New Zealand / Europe?? That is going to help British speedway alot isn't it! I am not against overseas riders appearing in the NL, and have enjoyed Taylor Poole, Dakota North and Cameron Heeps at Mildenhall, and if one rider was allowed it would stop all this pointless bickering about government rules on patriality etc which to be honest noone really understands 100%, but three per team is ridiculous!

100% Bryn

I realised that Edwardian and my comments were certainly not aimed at you.

I cannot believe some of the comments being aimed at Malcolm Vasey on here by some! No only is he a geniune and decent man he is as knowledgable about 3rd tier speedway as anyone and tactitally on the button. I rarely agree with Montie but his comments on Malcolms achievements at Stoke and Scunthorpe are spot on, well said!!