Workington 2026

[cometbaz]

Until championship speedway returns to a semi professional sport it will never be sustainable. How can our level of speedway be expected to finance flying riders around the world to ride. Leave that to the premiership and return our league to how things used to be when riders had jobs as well. Hardly a big ask when you're lucky if there are 4 meetings a month.  

[geoff100]

Cant fault drew and tate for effort last night the rest picked off far to easy! Hopefully better today.

[King Jamie]

16 hours ago, SteelShoe said:

Financially Speedway is about as far away from being transparent as you could get.  Speedway clubs running as private limited comapanies are classed as micro entities ie small businesses. The accounts are abbreviated and unaudited as far as I understand it so they tell the lay person virtually nothing. There is no itemised income v expenditure breakdown.

The lay person knows nothing and can't find out much about a clubs finances including, how much is raised in sponsorship, gate receipts, parking, programmes, food and drink as income streams or how much expenditure in the form of insurance, rent, rider wages ( rumoured to be too high at Championship level with current crowds ) medical cover costs, tyre costs and anything else I have missed. All in all it is about as transparent as mud. 

.

Thank you for highlighting this to people on here. Personally, I'm well aware of the above, having been an accountant since I left school, many, many, many moons ago. However, a lot of folk don't know about this stuff and it's always good to point it out.

My post was referencing Workington's former operating company going to the wall after accounts weren't filed since 19canteen. Therefore, I was asking if the reason the present venture isn't in trouble at the moment is because the accounts aren't due yet. 

Perhaps I'm old fashioned and I just expect company officials to carry out their duties on time.

Surely the same mistakes won't be repeated this time. That would be absolutely unforgivable.

Good luck to the Comets 🙂

[YeOldPitGate]

Someone on updates was saying Andrew has ploughed over £600k into Worky from the start so you can't fault his heart and commitment if that is true.

If this Poland and one other league situation in 2027 is true UK speedway will be forced into making some hard decision next year whether they like it or not.

If the current second division ends up going back to the standard of the national league a few years back before the powers that be obliterated it, that could be a good thing.

One old hand per team, 4-5 English youngsters and maybe a couple of young aussies like the lad at reserve for Berwick who are committed to being in the UK the full season could be the way forward.

Whatever way you slice it if you can't get more punters/sponsors in through the door, the costs are going to need to come down by a third to a half.

[Woke23]

1 hour ago, YeOldPitGate said:

Someone on updates was saying Andrew has ploughed over £600k into Worky from the start so you can't fault his heart and commitment if that is true.

If this Poland and one other league situation in 2027 is true UK speedway will be forced into making some hard decision next year whether they like it or not.

If the current second division ends up going back to the standard of the national league a few years back before the powers that be obliterated it, that could be a good thing.

One old hand per team, 4-5 English youngsters and maybe a couple of young aussies like the lad at reserve for Berwick who are committed to being in the UK the full season could be the way forward.

Whatever way you slice it if you can't get more punters/sponsors in through the door, the costs are going to need to come down by a third to a half.

Ive also been thinking about ways that they could save the sport and reduce costs.

More consistent fixtures would be a good start.

Id also cap wages and, if the top dogs dont want to ride for that amount, let them go. I'd rather see current middle pack riders move up to no.1 than have no speedway at all.

 

[SteelShoe]

3 hours ago, King Jamie said:

Thank you for highlighting this to people on here. Personally, I'm well aware of the above, having been an accountant since I left school, many, many, many moons ago. However, a lot of folk don't know about this stuff and it's always good to point it out.

My post was referencing Workington's former operating company going to the wall after accounts weren't filed since 19canteen. Therefore, I was asking if the reason the present venture isn't in trouble at the moment is because the accounts aren't due yet. 

Perhaps I'm old fashioned and I just expect company officials to carry out their duties on time.

Surely the same mistakes won't be repeated this time. That would be absolutely unforgivable.

Good luck to the Comets 🙂

Hi King Jamie  the answer to your question is I simply dont know.

On the face of it was a failing previously and I would hope harsh lessons were learned and proper remedial action and accounting steps were taken to prevent it happening again. Like you state if the same mistakes are repeated then that would indeed be unforgiveable and negligent.

There is nothing old fashioned about expecting company officials to carry out their duties on time, nothing less should be expected .

Without access to full audited financial accounts it is all just smoke and mirrors and chinese whispers regarding the financial situation of the club.  We as supporters take information from our club in good faith without knowing any of the actual detail.

[szkocjasid]

11 hours ago, Woke23 said:

Ive also been thinking about ways that they could save the sport and reduce costs.

More consistent fixtures would be a good start.

Id also cap wages and, if the top dogs dont want to ride for that amount, let them go. I'd rather see current middle pack riders move up to no.1 than have no speedway at all.

 

 

11 hours ago, Woke23 said:

Ive also been thinking about ways that they could save the sport and reduce costs.

More consistent fixtures would be a good start.

I'd also cap wages and, if the top dogs dont want to ride for that amount, let them go. I'd rather see current middle pack riders move up to no.1 than have no speedway at all.

 

Agree, especially at second tier level

[WookieboyDon]

This week’s SS cover. Doesn’t sound promising…

[Woke23]

1 hour ago, WookieboyDon said:

This week’s SS cover. Doesn’t sound promising…

Doesn't sound not promising though

[Neila]

Could a track run future FIM meetings without running in a league ? 

[SteelShoe]

1 hour ago, Neila said:

Could a track run future FIM meetings without running in a league ? 

Yes I believe so but are there many that Northside would have a chance of staging ? 

[Neila]

16 minutes ago, SteelShoe said:

Yes I believe so but are there many that Northside would have a chance of staging ? 

My understanding is you have to get on the FIM list, so by doing this upcoming 125 meeting, the track is on the list, then in the future ( if we have one 🤔 ) the FIM or the track owner could choose to be put forward for a bigger meeting. 

[Marksman]

Can read the article here on the demo pages, it is really just what JD said in his interview already.

https://reader.exacteditions.com/issues/157512/spread/3

John Campbell did say all the Championship promoters will do all they can to get all 9 teams back to tapes in 2027.

A couple of Premiership promotors are still not aligned with the rest of the promotors it seems, no prizes for guessing who they are!

Edited 19 hours ago by Marksman

[Neila]

I can understand why JD has said what he said about the future of the comets,  the crowds need to be better, but we have some very many good sponsors big and small.

But what I find strange is that their is no mention of this on the comets website or social media pages, it's all through Cumbria crack

[SteelShoe]

5 hours ago, Neila said:

I can understand why JD has said what he said about the future of the comets,  the crowds need to be better, but we have some very many good sponsors big and small.

But what I find strange is that their is no mention of this on the comets website or social media pages, it's all through Cumbria crack

A statement surely has to come from Andrew not JD . My instincts tell me Andrew has not invested his life savings in producing a mighty fine race track and venue which he continues to develop to run practices and the odd meeting. 

British Speedway needs to reinvent itself. It appears obvious the fans are getting increasingly bored of the current format so it is incumbent on the promotors to bring forth much needed change. Where are the visionaries ?.

[StevePark]

2 hours ago, SteelShoe said:

A statement surely has to come from Andrew not JD . My instincts tell me Andrew has not invested his life savings in producing a mighty fine race track and venue which he continues to develop to run practices and the odd meeting. 

British Speedway needs to reinvent itself. It appears obvious the fans are getting increasingly bored of the current format so it is incumbent on the promotors to bring forth much needed change. Where are the visionaries ?.

How long have many people been saying this for now?

Almost every winter we hear "this is one of the most important AGM's we have ever had," yet, year on year, hardly anything changes.  A tweak here or there, when a mass overhaul of the sport in the UK is needed - before it's too late. The clock is ticking.

[mikebv]

Just now, StevePark said:

How long have many people been saying this for now?

Almost every winter we hear "this is one of the most important AGM's we have ever had," yet, year on year, hardly anything changes.  A tweak here or there, when a mass overhaul of the sport in the UK is needed - before it's too late. The clock is ticking.

The piece in the Speedway Star with John Campbell suggests the penny, finally, may well have dropped..

Hiowever his comments about the Championship being "stable" are somewhat relying on how tier one teams subsidies tier two riders, and came two days before Workington mentioned that they may not run..

The meeting they held highlighted that no team want to "move up' next season, however, if DUing is no longer an option for the "better riders", that may change I would suggest, given plenty of NDL lads would need to come in...

Would fans pay the same, or more, for a lesser product?...

Two or three teams still wanting a "top tier" was also something mentioned, therefore, it looks like the "let's plan 2027 early" vision is still nowhere near...

No surprise there then eh?..

[SteveLyric2]

22 minutes ago, mikebv said:

The piece in the Speedway Star with John Campbell suggests the penny, finally, may well have dropped..

Hiowever his comments about the Championship being "stable" are somewhat relying on how tier one teams subsidies tier two riders, and came two days before Workington mentioned that they may not run..

The meeting they held highlighted that no team want to "move up' next season, however, if DUing is no longer an option for the "better riders", that may change I would suggest, given plenty of NDL lads would need to come in...

Would fans pay the same, or more, for a lesser product?...

Two or three teams still wanting a "top tier" was also something mentioned, therefore, it looks like the "let's plan 2027 early" vision is still nowhere near...

No surprise there then eh?..

Just to seek clarification of your last paragraph....Are the '2 or 3 teams still wanting a top tier' existing Prem clubs? If so I presume that's BV, IPPO and Northampton?

[mikebv]

24 minutes ago, SteveLyric2 said:

Just to seek clarification of your last paragraph....Are the '2 or 3 teams still wanting a top tier' existing Prem clubs? If so I presume that's BV, IPPO and Northampton?

"One or two teams" was his quote, apologies, although he goes on later to say "there might be one or two Premiership teams who would like a big league", so how many actually isn't clear...

He doesn't name those who want a top tier, but you would think it was those three you name wouldn't you, given two have the same person in charge....

Richard Coleman wants greater demarcation between the leagues, so you presume  Ipswich would be one, and Mark Lemon ensured a top tier due to playing a major part in delivering Northampton...

He also said one or two Championship clubs are not in a "perfect situation" but the aim is to bring all nine to the tapes in 2027..

Edinburgh ran to a crowd of just over 350 during the World Cup and he said several clubs ran similar numbers..

Not sure where this is all going, given its August and there still doesnt appear to be any sort of plan yet for 2027...

Another excellent Speedway Star with a very inciteful interview with Kyle Howarth as to why he has taken a break, which is linked to the current set up...

Edited 8 hours ago by mikebv

[topaz325]

All clubs could do with extra fans coming through the gates but I think the problems are much greater than not enough fans, the increased cost of everything including insurance, medical cover, shale etc plus riders wages .

The overall structure of the League could also help matters with riders DU up or sometimes in three Leagues at times.

Which clubs are doing well enough to stand without major help....Poole, Ipswich ? but even these clubs rely on plenty of Sponsors I believe but this is the case now in all sports.

Scunthorpe for example get by with having Stock car meetings to off set the Speedway ( i'm  sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong) , so stadiums need to be used for other events like the Greyhounds used to be.