Ipswich Witches 2026

[IainB]

4 minutes ago, mikebv said:

And you can add in a lack of TV money which may also reduce sponsors money as there will be less media coverage of their name...

I have seen that C5 covered The Worlds Strongest Man competition over Xmas...

They don't seen to have a huge sporting portfolio so maybe they could be interested in doing an hours worth of highlights using, for a fee, the streaming coversge from tracks, and BSN footage?

A relatively cheap show to produce, and gets some mainstream "free to air" coverage, rather than being behind a pay wall...

C5 is basically a nostalgia channel... so that could be a goer!

[mikebv]

2 minutes ago, IainB said:

C5 is basically a nostalgia channel... so that could be a goer!

You would think their viewing demographic would be not too dissimilar to UK Speedways...

Plenty of funeral planning adverts, Will planning, SAGA holidays, "Aches and Pains" improving devices, Cruises, Coach Holidays etc...

Fairly well off retirees, with a decent amount of disposable income...

The perfect Speedway crowd dynamic, with, no doubt, many of those viewing being those who say "Speedway? Is that still going? I used to go to Speedway"...

[Aries]

15 minutes ago, Mau said:

The club doesn't just need some rich benefactors. It still has to be run. Chris, with his wife and Richie Hawkins managed the club and they have all said they do not want to do that in the future. Who ever buys the club still has to find people with the time, the business know how, and speedway contacts to actually run it on a day to day basis.

You’re right, I’d add in they may also need a new track man and presenter if the current incumbents also decide to walk out of loyalty to Chris. You’d hope that Louis wouldn’t just sell and walk away completely right away. He did say he would work tirelessly over the coming weeks and months to make sure the club was left in good hands, so perhaps he would hang around and help the new person/people settle in by helping them build a team to keep the wheels moving. 

[Aries]

Ritchie Hawkins will also be a massive miss by the way. A figure of fun for some because of his demeanour, but he was an excellent team manager and done an awful lot behind the scenes that many don’t realise. He genuinely loved Ipswich and being part of the club. 

[YeOldPitGate]

2 hours ago, Steve Irving said:

Media wise absolutely. Knowing the inside info of Speedway clubs’ signings, especially these days, I’m not convinced.

No malice intended and as I’ve said, Steve is a sound fella and well respected, but I can’t ever recall him calling a correct signing on here before or breaking anything that wasn’t already known. 
 

Anyway, let’s hope @RoundTheBoards is correct and a deal is done for Ipswich to come to the tapes. The sport desperately needs them it’s as simple as that.

Let’s also hope that Flagrag was correct and Ipswich have a top number 1 GP rider and a competitive team. Having lost Doyle (for now) and Emil to the League, it will be a boost to get another top liner over here.

Fair point again Steve I was in hindsight thinking more from the media point of view, Phil normally heres a few whispers that are right more than wrong but even he has said this year its all been locked down more as far as info getting out goes.

[YeOldPitGate]

1 hour ago, Aries said:

It’s both a risk for the buyer, AND the seller so it’s a very difficult one to value. On the face of it it certainly does currently look like a failing business model, but what if it turns around in 2027?

People will scoff at that suggestion and with good reason, but we know plans are being put in place to make sure next winter, isn’t like this one. 
 

People keep saying machinery, starting gates, and air fences are the assets.  But it’s the supporters who are the assets. 
 

A well supported club will always be worth more financially, than a poorly supported club for obvious reasons. Ipswich would be one of the plum pick ups because of the loyal core fan base. 
 

The difficulty is the valuation and trying to predict how much of an effect the negativity of a dwindling top flight, plus the loss of Doyle and Emil, will have on attendances. 
 

It’ll definitely have an effect for certain, but to what degree remains to be seen and that’s why it’s difficult to value. 
 

If Louis sells too low and the sport sorts itself out even marginally, and the crowds return, then he could end up losing out. 
 

If the buyer buys too high and the downward spiral continues and the crowds dwindle further, then they’ve made a poor investment. 
 

It ain’t easy. 

It certainly isn't easy Ippo has probably always been one of the best if not the best supported club in the UK with a friendly landlord so from that point of view its attractive, the big issue as we all know is that the sport as a whole is in one hell of a mess held up by rich fans who don't mind losing money.

I would liken Ippo to having a really nice presented coffee shop with a good product but said shop is in a really rough area of town and all the other shops are run down and surviving month to month, in the longer term its a question of will you have a business in 2-3 years time as everyone else around you is slowly failing so it could be in three years yours is the only shop open in said rough area.

Like most of us i've no idea how the sport digs itself out of this hole and as I've mentioned many times it could just be that like pubs, blockbuster videos, nightclubs etc its just stuck in a bygone age and doesn't appeal to youth that spend most of their time online in their bedrooms or on phones.

[Hamish McRaker]

17 hours ago, 1 valve said:

"Lets not" what?

Let's not be told to shut up. 

[Phannan]

1 hour ago, Hamish McRaker said:

Let's not be told to shut up. 

Let’s not be told to shut up about what 

[Hamish McRaker]

1 hour ago, Phannan said:

Let’s not be told to shut up about what 

See the majority of posts on this thread since around early November!

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

5 hours ago, Mau said:

Does club anyone know who administers the 400 club?  I joined when it started in 1996 and will now have paid in to the fund around £1800. When it started it did have around 400 members although I believe there is probably less than half that number who still contribute. However after paying out the prize money at least £250.000 must have been raised but no accounts have ever been published and members have never been told what the money has been used for.  As my monthly £5 is still being collected it would be nice to have a little information.

My understanding is that the links are via the supporters club (who should be commended for tireless efforts over many years)

I asked similar questions when it looked like Buster was taking over

Ultimately the funds are there to assist with club costs so whoever is in control can request 

For example the need to replace the air fence this season would vert likely be the type of expenditure that would be contributed to

[YeOldPitGate]

2 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said:

My understanding is that the links are via the supporters club (who should be commended for tireless efforts over many years)

I asked similar questions when it looked like Buster was taking over

Ultimately the funds are there to assist with club costs so whoever is in control can request 

For example the need to replace the air fence this season would vert likely be the type of expenditure that would be contributed to

Fantastic amount of money raised over the years that figure by the supporters club.

[Tom Thumb]

Also in the 400 club and understand it is run by the Supporters Club and is totally independent of the Speedway Club.  Their AGM is on 28th Jan, so you could attend & ask the questions.

 

Copied from Facebook                 Due to the unavailability of the main hall on the 14th, our AGM is now taking place on Wednesday 28th January at Kesgrave Social Club, with a start time of 7.30pm. 
At the moment, we don't know if this will be followed by a quiz, but as soon as we have more information, we'll let you all know. We will be holding the 400 Club draws for December and January and will post the results here.

 

[gjcone44]

i wonder what the problem with quiz is?? some one must have some inside info ..

[Tom Thumb]

47 minutes ago, gjcone44 said:

i wonder what the problem with quiz is?? some one must have some inside info ..

Time

[old bob at herne bay]

Probably lots of questions ..... but no one has any answers 

[old bob at herne bay]

If Ippo do run in 2026, they coudl have a top two of Woofy and Lidsley, both of whom seem to be unattached at the moment. 

[SteveArena]

I am sure Gavan knows all the inside info.  

[Roger Jacobs]

2 hours ago, old bob at herne bay said:

If Ippo do run in 2026, they coudl have a top two of Woofy and Lidsley, both of whom seem to be unattached at the moment. 

Does anyone think that Woffinden would be interested in the extra hassle of the Prem fixture list when he's returning from injury and has a GP season to focus on? As for Lidsey, I'm not convinced.

Brennan, King, Rew, Ellis, Jenkins, and Edwards + 1 seems an option ... although I have absolutely no idea how close that is, or who the +1 would be.

[Racin Jason 72]

1 hour ago, Roger Jacobs said:

Does anyone think that Woffinden would be interested in the extra hassle of the Prem fixture list when he's returning from injury and has a GP season to focus on? As for Lidsey, I'm not convinced.

Brennan, King, Rew, Ellis, Jenkins, and Edwards + 1 seems an option ... although I have absolutely no idea how close that is, or who the +1 would be.

Musielak as the +1 would fit nicely 

[TTT]

2 hours ago, Roger Jacobs said:

Does anyone think that Woffinden would be interested in the extra hassle of the Prem fixture list when he's returning from injury and has a GP season to focus on? As for Lidsey, I'm not convinced.

Brennan, King, Rew, Ellis, Jenkins, and Edwards + 1 seems an option ... although I have absolutely no idea how close that is, or who the +1 would be.

I think Tai would tbh as he will need to get his race sharpness back after a long injury lay off and Britain is the best place to do that considering our season starts earlier than the foreign Leagues and the GP's.