Ipswich Witches 2026

[1 valve]

16 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I did get told today that he is the promoter at Northampton and there is a tv deal imminent although it’s not a financial one, who knows, it’s a rumour and to be honest I’m getting sick of it all, 6 team league is not enough imo and I just wanted sorted now 

Its a bit of a stretch to believe this could be the case, However as a promoter can't run two clubs in the same division and as CL has proven to be arguably the most competent of the current crop, maybe there could be some leverage going on within the top clubs knowing that a new owner & promoter for Ipswich can be found whilst he focusses attention on building and launching Northampton thus delivering a six club top flight. 
Interesting to see CL has resigned from the BSPL but not Speedway Ventures meaning his involvement in find a future for speedway continues and that is a positive sign.  

Edited Saturday at 12:04 PM by 1 valve

[szkocjasid]

17 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I did get told today that he is the promoter at Northampton and there is a tv deal imminent although it’s not a financial one, who knows, it’s a rumour and to be honest I’m getting sick of it all, 6 team league is not enough imo and I just wanted sorted now 

The way things are going a 6 team Premiership would be a tremendous achievement ahead of 2026

[Fromafar]

56 minutes ago, 1 valve said:

Its a bit of a stretch to believe this could be the case, However as a promoter can't run two clubs in the same division and as CL has proven to be arguably the most competent of the current crop, maybe there could be some leverage going on within the top clubs knowing that a new owner & promoter for Ipswich can be found whilst he focusses attention on building and launching Northampton thus delivering a six club top flight. 
Interesting to see CL has resigned from the BSPL but not Speedway Ventures meaning his involvement in find a future for speedway continues and that is a positive sign.  

The hold situation regarding Premiership is a shambles hard to see what CL is trying too achieve.

[TB1]

21 minutes ago, szkocjasid said:

The way things are going a 6 team Premiership would be a tremendous achievement ahead of 2026

No it's not. It's like bubble and squeak. Chuck all the crap and leftovers together and fry them in a pan!

[JamesB]

20 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

I did get told today that he is the promoter at Northampton and there is a tv deal imminent although it’s not a financial one, who knows, it’s a rumour and to be honest I’m getting sick of it all, 6 team league is not enough imo and I just wanted sorted now 

In the context of his statement, that would be extremely surprising.

“….unfortunately it is time to step aside, but I leave the club and the sport with so many great memories that will last forever. Thank you.”

That seems to make it clear that he is leaving the sport.

[YeOldPitGate]

20 hours ago, Falcon1983 said:

I can't see Chris selling up at Ipswich to then take on Northampton to enable the premiership to run with Ipswich part of that Premiership... doesn't make any sense at all...

Could he sell up to be part of sorting Northampton out to run in 2027 then yes as it will take time to get that off the ground at their HOME track

I can see a 5 team Premiership happening with Ipswich, Leicester, Kings Lynn, Sheffield and Belle Vue

Home & Away Twice giving 16 meetings

League "winner" direct into the play off Final, 2nd and 3rd place into a two legged semi final...

Potentially they may resurrect the best pairs competiton to be held at each venue to just expand and add a bit of variety 

The clubs simply can't take a year out, some form of prem will run maybe a bit on a budget such as 5 rider teams with a 35 point team building limit then having 2 x U24 Commonwealth reserves and maybe tweaking the format to have 2 x reserve races then 2 & 6 vs 2 & 7 and the other way round to give the U24s a better chance...

All this should be done with a view of then sorting out a one league format for 2027 onwards whether thats regional or not 

 

 

Last time they ran the pairs the over 85's bingo hall at east fife had more spectators turn up.

[tonyd]

On 11/29/2025 at 1:00 PM, Fromafar said:

However as a promoter can't run two clubs in the same division

I agree but someone can own more than one club and appoint a promoter to run the club for them (but then it just makes the promoter the mouthpiece of the club owner)

[Aries]

Louis “reasonably” confident Witches will come to tapes in 26.  Two interested parties he’s currently in discussions with. 
 

Couldn’t elaborate on the full reasons why he’s stepping away but pretty much gave it away actually. Looks like a 5 team league that he has no interest in. 
 

Edit: they weren’t exactly his words that he wasn’t interested in a 5 team league btw, but that was pretty obvious to me anyway that that was a strong factor along with the dire way things are run here. 
 

Hopefully someone more clever than me can upload his radio piece from a website somewhere. Badge is usually good with that stuff. Was around 9.50 on Gen X radio Suffolk. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Aries

[therefused]

1 hour ago, Aries said:

Louis “reasonably” confident Witches will come to tapes in 26.  Two interested parties he’s currently in discussions with. 
 

Couldn’t elaborate on the full reasons why he’s stepping away but pretty much gave it away actually. Looks like a 5 team league that he has no interest in. 
 

Edit: they weren’t exactly his words that he wasn’t interested in a 5 team league btw, but that was pretty obvious to me anyway that that was a strong factor along with the dire way things are run here. 
 

Hopefully someone more clever than me can upload his radio piece from a website somewhere. Badge is usually good with that stuff. Was around 9.50 on Gen X radio Suffolk. 

it basically said as much in the speedway star, but what is he expecting to happen? a team being forced to run in the premiership to make it up to 6? which is still a stupidly low number for a top league. 

[blue witch]

2 hours ago, Aries said:

Louis “reasonably” confident Witches will come to tapes in 26.  Two interested parties he’s currently in discussions with. 
 

Couldn’t elaborate on the full reasons why he’s stepping away but pretty much gave it away actually. Looks like a 5 team league that he has no interest in. 
 

Edit: they weren’t exactly his words that he wasn’t interested in a 5 team league btw, but that was pretty obvious to me anyway that that was a strong factor along with the dire way things are run here. 
 

Hopefully someone more clever than me can upload his radio piece from a website somewhere. Badge is usually good with that stuff. Was around 9.50 on Gen X radio Suffolk. 

https://www.merlinsoftware.co.uk/radio/listen/player.asp?showid=24790
skip to 50 mins in on this link

[IainB]

1 hour ago, therefused said:

it basically said as much in the speedway star, but what is he expecting to happen? a team being forced to run in the premiership to make it up to 6? which is still a stupidly low number for a top league. 

Listening to Carl Johnson on the Speedway 360 podcast a few weeks ago and he said Peterborough had been asked to make up the 6th club... Currently there is no Peterborough Speedway!! This is proof, if any more were needed, that those running the sport are completely delusional if not totally insane!

Edited 3 hours ago by IainB

[SteveLyric2]

Can anyone tell me what the point was of that Radio Interview?  Investigative journalism at its best! NOT.

I wonder if CL will make it a condition of the sale that the new owners must operate in the Premiership?

[Phannan]

Hopefully one of these two interested parties will come through. It’s totally beyond me though why any successful person would see an investment in the sport as worthwhile and profitable. It’s dying a slow death and there’s so many reasons why that have been aired over and over again on these forums. Non descript non jeopardy speedway with nil ambition shown in certain areas being the worst in my opinion. 

[Racin Jason 72]

12 minutes ago, Phannan said:

Hopefully one of these two interested parties will come through. It’s totally beyond me though why any successful person would see an investment in the sport as worthwhile and profitable. It’s dying a slow death and there’s so many reasons why that have been aired over and over again on these forums. Non descript non jeopardy speedway with nil ambition shown in certain areas being the worst in my opinion. 

And next season there may be no tv money. Add the cost of a new airfence and with the prospect of a 5 team premiership less fixtures and the same old faces but more regular. 
the fans will pick and choose and crowds will diminish. 
will the sponsors pay the same sponsorship now there is no tv deal and national coverage? 
I can completely understand why Chris Louis has put the club up for sale. 

[cowboy cookie returns?]

42 minutes ago, SteveLyric2 said:

Can anyone tell me what the point was of that Radio Interview?  Investigative journalism at its best! NOT.

I wonder if CL will make it a condition of the sale that the new owners must operate in the Premiership?

I wouldn’t have thought Chris would put any stipulations in place as part of the sale. 

The buyer would have be left free to judge what works best for their business plan. Could be totally different to CL’s 

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

5 minutes ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

I wouldn’t have thought Chris would put any stipulations in place as part of the sale. 

The buyer would have be left free to judge what works best for their business plan. Could be totally different to CL’s 

Would a new owner have a choice?

I think the Championship clubs would block a new entry

[Phannan]

10 minutes ago, Racin Jason 72 said:

And next season there may be no tv money. Add the cost of a new airfence and with the prospect of a 5 team premiership less fixtures and the same old faces but more regular. 
the fans will pick and choose and crowds will diminish. 
will the sponsors pay the same sponsorship now there is no tv deal and national coverage? 
I can completely understand why Chris Louis has put the club up for sale. 

I understand why too. What I don’t understand is what is it that makes it an attractive buy to a potential new investor. The sport needs a total shake up from the bottom. Two even numbered leagues with tiered prize money depending on where you finish up at the end . That way there is meaning to every meeting. I would also introduce one up and one down at the season’s end. But I’m living in a dream world. 

[SPEEDY69]

20 minutes ago, Phannan said:

I understand why too. What I don’t understand is what is it that makes it an attractive buy to a potential new investor. The sport needs a total shake up from the bottom. Two even numbered leagues with tiered prize money depending on where you finish up at the end . That way there is meaning to every meeting. I would also introduce one up and one down at the season’s end. But I’m living in a dream world. 

He described it as a successful business so profit will be one attraction - it's also true that people don't only buy businesses as an investment.