Ipswich Witches 2026

[FAST GATER]

16 hours ago, Daniel Smith said:

It is absolutely fact, Ipswich would be also-rans (like King's Lynn) without TruPlant.

That has been true of British S/way for the last 30yrs plus ,like it or not the wage demands what we would call "star riders" ( not saying whether a rider is worth it or not ) has alwys had to be mostly if not totally underwtitten by third parties .

[chun]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/motorsport/articles/cpvd2g1wgvmo
 

Can’t see this posted in the thread.

 

Manager Hawkins supports Ipswich Witches sale

[chun]

"There are good people involved with running speedway but there are some that aren't as well," Hawkins added. 

"Ipswich and Chris Louis have shown what can be achieved and that people do still want to watch speedway, and will back a professional outfit. 

"There's still potential that the sport can carry on and be great but it needs the right people involved which they're probably not at the moment."

[89buttons]

17 hours ago, Daniel Smith said:

 

Jealousy of what exactly. There's nothing in British Speedway to be jealous of.

Hate towards Louis?? Nobody is hating on Louis, Hawkins, Nicholls or Ipswich as a whole.

People are just highlighting the delusions of Ipswich fans, believing that Ipswich is well-run, where, in fact, it's just well-backed.

How do we know it's about backing rather than the running of the club?!?

Seeing as you asked, here's some basic maths to wrap your head around.

Let's say Ipswich has around 1400 through the gate every meeting. 

700 at full (£24), 600 at concession (£22), 100 at child (£1).

That's £30,100 per home meeting.

Half that to also cover the away fixtures (£15,050).

What's the chances that Sayfutdinov & Doyle almost swallowed that up between them?? Highly likely isn't it?? 

Now it's about guesstimating the costs of Brennan, King, Ellis, Thompson & Edwards.

Would £10,000 seem a fair guess for those 5?!?

That's a basic 30% needing to be covered by sponsorship in salaries. 

None of the above has taken in to consideration the costs of medical cover, insurance, track materials, staff etc, all the costs outside of the septet. 

When 30%-40% of expenditure needs to be covered by Sponsorship, that's not a well run club, that's a well backed club.

I'll say it again. It's in no way "Chris Louis hate", it's just to highlight this best-run, well-run nonsense.

It is absolutely fact, Ipswich would be also-rans (like King's Lynn) without TruPlant.

The basis of people praising Chris for the professionalism of how the club is run stems from the riders - all of the riders in the last few years to ride for Ipswich have echoed this statement many calling it the best run uk club they’ve worked for, this is where the fans bring these claims from.

Your attempt to remove any praise of Chris in terms of the clubs sponsors/backing is kind of amusing, at a speedway club who’s job do you think it might be to go out and get those sponsors to support the club…? Maybe someone titled promoter?

People on this forum since day one bemoan promoters only having self interest at heart, not caring about speedway, not actually getting out and promoting it properly, Chris has poured his heart and soul into the witches and worked his arse off promoting the club gaining the support of multiple long term local sponsors, affiliated the witches with Ipswich Town to benefit each club promotionally and yet that’s not a well run club its luck 🤷‍♂️😂

you talk of 30-40% of the clubs expenditure is covered by sponsorship as a negative, but last time I checked every other sport utilises sponsorship doesn’t it? Premier league football clubs raking in £60-100m a year from adidas/nike etc, selling the sleeve and stomach sponsors for millions, premiership rugby wouldn’t exist without huge sponsorship investment, tennis heavily invested with Rolex over the years, golf literally has pga tour events called “The John Deere Classic” “RSM Classic” where do you think the money is coming from for the prize pools in those yep you’ve guessed it - sponsorship!!

As a lifelong witches fan I’m beyond gutted with Louis announcement to sadly sell up and walk away but I’m for one grateful for everything he’s done for the club and know the circumstances behind the scenes must be pretty dire for him to make such a decision.

[Daniel Smith]

44 minutes ago, 89buttons said:

The basis of people praising Chris for the professionalism of how the club is run stems from the riders - all of the riders in the last few years to ride for Ipswich have echoed this statement many calling it the best run uk club they’ve worked for, this is where the fans bring these claims from.

Your attempt to remove any praise of Chris in terms of the clubs sponsors/backing is kind of amusing, at a speedway club who’s job do you think it might be to go out and get those sponsors to support the club…? Maybe someone titled promoter?

People on this forum since day one bemoan promoters only having self interest at heart, not caring about speedway, not actually getting out and promoting it properly, Chris has poured his heart and soul into the witches and worked his arse off promoting the club gaining the support of multiple long term local sponsors, affiliated the witches with Ipswich Town to benefit each club promotionally and yet that’s not a well run club its luck 🤷‍♂️😂

you talk of 30-40% of the clubs expenditure is covered by sponsorship as a negative, but last time I checked every other sport utilises sponsorship doesn’t it? Premier league football clubs raking in £60-100m a year from adidas/nike etc, selling the sleeve and stomach sponsors for millions, premiership rugby wouldn’t exist without huge sponsorship investment, tennis heavily invested with Rolex over the years, golf literally has pga tour events called “The John Deere Classic” “RSM Classic” where do you think the money is coming from for the prize pools in those yep you’ve guessed it - sponsorship!!

As a lifelong witches fan I’m beyond gutted with Louis announcement to sadly sell up and walk away but I’m for one grateful for everything he’s done for the club and know the circumstances behind the scenes must be pretty dire for him to make such a decision.

That highlighted part, but sorry 🤣🤣

I suppose it's great to know that Jason & Emil put themselves out for £20 per point then because they were ravaged with their treatment 🤣🤣

In terms of sponsorship in more professional sports, it cannot be compared as these sponsors are getting something back from it. 99% of British Speedway sponsors are throwing money away because they're fans & no they'll get nothing in return. 

It is not the same at all.

[TTT]

2 hours ago, chun said:

 

"There are good people involved with running speedway but there are some that aren't as well," Hawkins added. 

"Ipswich and Chris Louis have shown what can be achieved and that people do still want to watch speedway, and will back a professional outfit. 

"There's still potential that the sport can carry on and be great but it needs the right people involved which they're probably not at the moment."

Exactly what i've been saying too, Some Promoters and Owners don't give a stuff about the Sport in the UK.

I can't believe some fans are holding Chris Louis accountable for everything. (Easy Target I Guess)

I guarantee that most fans in Chris' position would've done the same thing.

[norbold]

2 hours ago, 89buttons said:

People on this forum since day one bemoan promoters only having self interest at heart, not caring about speedway, not actually getting out and promoting it properly, Chris has poured his heart and soul into the witches and worked his arse off promoting the club gaining the support of multiple long term local sponsors, affiliated the witches with Ipswich Town to benefit each club promotionally and yet that’s not a well run club its luck 🤷‍♂️😂

 

Exactly that. One of the common themes on this Forum, not just this thread, is that promoters don't..er..promote the sport enough. They don't get enough publicity, they don't get sponsors, etc. Now, suddenly the one promoter who has been able to show what can be done in terms of publicity and gaining sponsorship is somehow the villain.

I'm sure it must have been a very hard decision for Chris to walk away from the club that has been his life, the club that was his dad's life, the club they both loved. And, of course, as an Ipswich supporter myself I am very concerned about its future, but I cannot imaging for one second that this was an easy decision for Chris and that he is the reason why British speedway is failing.

We need more promoters like Chris able to bring the supporters in and build good teams, not criticise him.

[Roger Jacobs]

1 hour ago, Daniel Smith said:

That highlighted part, but sorry 🤣🤣

I suppose it's great to know that Jason & Emil put themselves out for £20 per point then because they were ravaged with their treatment 🤣🤣

In terms of sponsorship in more professional sports, it cannot be compared as these sponsors are getting something back from it. 99% of British Speedway sponsors are throwing money away because they're fans & no they'll get nothing in return. 

It is not the same at all.

So, you've got a downer on someone who has worked to bring in Doyle and Sayfutdinov, and to pay them what they're prepared to accept (I'm sure there was negotiation) - and to find ways to make it work financially, plus everything else that goes alongside riders with a thoroughly professional approach.

It's not just those two riders though - the other six also say the same, down to Jenkins and Edwards, who Louis wanted in the team because of their excellent approach, and who wanted to ride for Ipswich. Brennan and Thompson are the very best examples of riders who knew that they would improve if they joined Louis' set-up - not just because Louis is thorough in his approach, but also because he demands and expects the same from his employees.

There's no doubt that speedway's sponsorship finances are predominantly goodwill, rather than purely commercial - and can't be compared with multi-million pound/dollar corporations sponsoring the world's popular sports. At best we're talking about the same level as National League football, or more likely the divisions below that, and other minority sports that also rely on local goodwill.

British Speedway's biggest problem is that it's got very little worth actually investing in. Despite everything that Louis has done, he can really only sell his licence to promote the sport - there aren't any major tangible assets.

Edited 7 hours ago by Roger Jacobs
Minor changes.

[Daniel Smith]

42 minutes ago, Roger Jacobs said:

So, you've got a downer on someone who has worked to bring in Doyle and Sayfutdinov, and to pay them what they're prepared to accept (I'm sure there was negotiation) - and to find ways to make it work financially, plus everything else that goes alongside riders with a thoroughly professional approach.

It's not just those two riders though - the other six also say the same, down to Jenkins and Edwards, who Louis wanted in the team because of their excellent approach, and who wanted to ride for Ipswich. Brennan and Thompson are the very best examples of riders who knew that they would improve if they joined Louis' set-up - not just because Louis is thorough in his approach, but also because he demands and expects the same from his employees.

There's no doubt that speedway's sponsorship finances are predominantly goodwill, rather than purely commercial - and can't be compared with multi-million pound/dollar corporations sponsoring the world's popular sports. At best we're talking about the same level as National League football, or more likely the divisions below that, and other minority sports that also rely on local goodwill.

British Speedway's biggest problem is that it's got very little worth actually investing in. Despite everything that Louis has done, he can really only sell his licence to promote the sport - there aren't any major tangible assets.

Again, it's nothing to do with how Louis, Hawkins & others work for Ipswich Speedway. They have done what needs to be done, they all worked bloody hard. That's not in dispute.

The issue for me is this belief (mainly by the fans) that it's 'well run', rather than the actual fact that Ipswich is fortunate to be 'well backed'. They're not one & the same, especially in British Speedway.

[Dave_minall]

I've got respect for Louis for doing this. Whether he did it for financial reasons or because he can't harmonise with what the future of speedway looks like in the UK, this must have been a deeply saddening decision to come to. If you cut him he would bleed ipswich speedway and he's also walking away from the legacy that his dad built. To decide to call it a day must have been the toughest decision of his life.

But at the end of the day, if he deems the sport is no longer financially viable in Suffolk, I myself would rather walk away with some money in my pocket than risk bankruptcy at the age of 56.

[BluPanther]

12 minutes ago, Daniel Smith said:

Again, it's nothing to do with how Louis, Hawkins & others work for Ipswich Speedway. They have done what needs to be done, they all worked bloody hard. That's not in dispute.

The issue for me is this belief (mainly by the fans) that it's 'well run', rather than the actual fact that Ipswich is fortunate to be 'well backed'. They're not one & the same, especially in British Speedway.

If it wasn't 'well run', it wouldn't have been 'well backed'. Successful national businessmen don't throw their money at poorly run outfits...

[Gavan]

36 minutes ago, Daniel Smith said:

Again, it's nothing to do with how Louis, Hawkins & others work for Ipswich Speedway. They have done what needs to be done, they all worked bloody hard. That's not in dispute.

The issue for me is this belief (mainly by the fans) that it's 'well run', rather than the actual fact that Ipswich is fortunate to be 'well backed'. They're not one & the same, especially in British Speedway.

Ipswich is well backed …. But why?? Maybe the sponsors see how well run the club is and back the club

You don’t get good sponsors by running your show badly!!

Granted the sponsorship has helped secure Jason and Emil … but it’s not like the sponsor decided to go to the leagues most successful teams and sponsor them …. They chose Ipswich so ask yourself why??? Because the club was run badly or run well?

 

[Arthur54]

4 minutes ago, Gavan said:

Ipswich is well backed …. But why?? Maybe the sponsors see how well run the club is and back the club

You don’t get good sponsors by running your show badly!!

Granted the sponsorship has helped secure Jason and Emil … but it’s not like the sponsor decided to go to the leagues most successful teams and sponsor them …. They chose Ipswich so ask yourself why??? Because the club was run badly or run well?

 

I suppose with Ipswich potentially not running, you will be able to focus all your attention on your favourite club Poole now 

[mikebv]

4 minutes ago, Arthur54 said:

I suppose with Ipswich potentially not running, you will be able to focus all your attention on your favourite club Poole now 

Let's hope the Aces keep going too so that's at least two threads that can be contributed to....

[SPEEDY69]

54 minutes ago, Dave_minall said:

I've got respect for Louis for doing this. Whether he did it for financial reasons or because he can't harmonise with what the future of speedway looks like in the UK, this must have been a deeply saddening decision to come to. If you cut him he would bleed ipswich speedway and he's also walking away from the legacy that his dad built. To decide to call it a day must have been the toughest decision of his life.

But at the end of the day, if he deems the sport is no longer financially viable in Suffolk, I myself would rather walk away with some money in my pocket than risk bankruptcy at the age of 56.

Agree with you on the first para but I don't think he's said what I've put in bold?

[gjcone44]

but that is because the rest of prem is not financial viable

[Badge]

Although I've posted this on Aces thread,  as all discussions seem to be here, thought I'd share here too. 

[IainB]

1 hour ago, Dave_minall said:

I've got respect for Louis for doing this. Whether he did it for financial reasons or because he can't harmonise with what the future of speedway looks like in the UK, this must have been a deeply saddening decision to come to. If you cut him he would bleed ipswich speedway and he's also walking away from the legacy that his dad built. To decide to call it a day must have been the toughest decision of his life.

But at the end of the day, if he deems the sport is no longer financially viable in Suffolk, I myself would rather walk away with some money in my pocket than risk bankruptcy at the age of 56.

He must think the Ipswich fans are a right fickle bunch then 😁😉

[Fromafar]

25 minutes ago, Badge said:

Although I've posted this on Aces thread,  as all discussions seem to be here, thought I'd share here too. 

Not reading telling us anything we don’t already know.He won’t change anything for GB.

[Daniel Smith]

1 hour ago, Gavan said:

Ipswich is well backed …. But why?? Maybe the sponsors see how well run the club is and back the club

You don’t get good sponsors by running your show badly!!

Granted the sponsorship has helped secure Jason and Emil … but it’s not like the sponsor decided to go to the leagues most successful teams and sponsor them …. They chose Ipswich so ask yourself why??? Because the club was run badly or run well?

 

Do I seriously have to answer this??

Seeing as you asked, Guy Nicholls is a local business owner with a multi millions turnover, who is/was a fan of the sport/club. He chose Ipswich because that's where he's from. Zero to do with Ipswich being 'well-run'.

I hear you ask, why did he sponsor King's Lynn & then Sheffield??

Because it was his best route to try & expand he brand, who are also located in Loughborough. 

The same questions can be asked of Sheffield, it's no coincidence with the standard of rider's signed under the TruPlant sponsorship. Without them, Sheffield could never afford both Holder's & Woffinden. 

Sheffield was well-backed, not well-run. Nicholls pulls his sponsorship, then all of a sudden Sheffield is up for sale. Could be coincidence but is it though??

Ipswich are not the Real Madrid of British Speedway. Ipswich are (to a point Sheffield) lucky feckers to have TruPlant around.

If Guy Nicholls wasn’t a fan of the sport/club, the size of his business would go nowhere near it.