Ipswich Witches 2026

[Youhave2minutes]

17 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

The new owners should be kicked out the sport forever along with speedway futures and the other premiership owners,making the fans wait like this, it’s got past a joke now, it’s February tomorrow for god sake 😡

Just one big p*55take as usual.

[Youhave2minutes]

16 hours ago, Hawk127 said:

Which one, tiddlywinks or scrabble? 

Wrong, good guess. It’s the chess champion

[Hamish McRaker]

On 1/30/2026 at 6:36 PM, DBP said:

Belle vue still not announced their number one absolutely pathetic 6 weeks to season starting still no fixtures or price details 

Will defiantly pick and chose meetings this season and I won't be alone

They announced Bewley ages ago. He's up there with anyone else. May not eventually be "number one" when and if things get underway. The rest of your moans aren't down to Belle Vue!

[Aries]

48 minutes ago, cowboy cookie returns? said:

I’ve just re read the last update statement.

All it said was that the sale was agreed subject to contract. No further update until it had going though but expected in the coming weeks. No hint of a two week deadline so not sure where that came from.

Just out of interest when do Pavitt Louis & Western compete the take over the last time we were sold in 89? I have a feeling that was quite late on. 
 

Louis was on Wayne Bavin’s breakfast show on Radio Suffolk days after that update on the official site you’ve just mentioned, where he allegedly said he hopes to name the new owners within two weeks. There’s a brief transcript on the BBC website somewhere from that interview, where it isn’t printed that he actually said “within two weeks”, which is where the confusion came from. But they’ve quoted him as saying that. 

Edited 4 hours ago by Aries

[Steve Irving]

The new owners are going to want to make a statement of intent. They’ll know full well the Ipswich supporters have been used to watching Doyle and Emil lead the team the last few years, and having Brennan (with all due respect to him) leading the team at 1 isn’t going to cut the mustard. If it’s Mayfield, that gives them a huge advantage over every other club when it comes to attracting a big hitter over. 
 

Especially those GP riders who might not make the cut, and will rely on a wildcard to remain in the series…

[TTT]

I don't mind waiting as long as it takes, Just as long as the wait is worth it.

[ouch]

17 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

The new owners should be kicked out the sport forever along with speedway futures and the other premiership owners,making the fans wait like this, it’s got past a joke now, it’s February tomorrow for god sake 😡

I wondered how long it would be before it was Belle Vue’s fault (as one of the other Premiership owners). Took longer than I thought but it’s finally arrived. 
I’ll bring it up with them when I next see them so if you could provide some bullet points as to their wrong doing I’ll post their response. 

[gazzac]

1 hour ago, BluPanther said:

Witches fans...

They look like button mushrooms, hopefully won't be in the Shiitake any minute.....

[TTT]

25 minutes ago, Steve Irving said:

The new owners are going to want to make a statement of intent. They’ll know full well the Ipswich supporters have been used to watching Doyle and Emil lead the team the last few years, and having Brennan (with all due respect to him) leading the team at 1 isn’t going to cut the mustard. If it’s Mayfield, that gives them a huge advantage over every other club when it comes to attracting a big hitter over. 
 

Especially those GP riders who might not make the cut, and will rely on a wildcard to remain in the series…

Bang on.

Mayfield Sports not only have the Money but they've also got leverge when it comes to GP Riders who are middle of the pack who normally need a favour via a Wildcard to get back in the following season.

I'm confident that we'll have 50% of Team GB's eventual World Cup line-up in Ipswich race suits this year.

Edited 3 hours ago by TTT

[JamesB]

18 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

The new owners should be kicked out the sport forever along with speedway futures and the other premiership owners,making the fans wait like this, it’s got past a joke now, it’s February tomorrow for god sake 😡

Sorry, but that’s a ridiculous statement in relation to the Ipswich takeover.

 I have said before that if they complete the financial and legal due diligence in 6-8 weeks, then that would be some going. 

Just on the legals; Spedeworth will have a head lease with the ultimate owners and a sub lease with Louis. Both leases will have required a full legal review and the head lease may have restrictive covenants about who Spedeworth can sub let to and probably requires prior approval of the ultimate owner to any novation of an existing lease or creation of a new sub lease.

I seem to remember reading somewhere, quite a while ago that the ultimate owner is the original Ipswich Speedway which if true means that entity was formed many years ago and may have a complex ownership structure e.g. some form of Trust structure and be governed by a Trust Deed, etc which would complicate decisions and approvals even more.

The sale and purchase of a business is a complex and time consuming process.

Edited 3 hours ago by JamesB

[YeOldPitGate]

39 minutes ago, Steve Irving said:

The new owners are going to want to make a statement of intent. They’ll know full well the Ipswich supporters have been used to watching Doyle and Emil lead the team the last few years, and having Brennan (with all due respect to him) leading the team at 1 isn’t going to cut the mustard. If it’s Mayfield, that gives them a huge advantage over every other club when it comes to attracting a big hitter over. 
 

Especially those GP riders who might not make the cut, and will rely on a wildcard to remain in the series…

Hence the rumours around Woffy I guess he's possibly Englands greatest ever rider but personally I think his days at the very top are over plus he's coming back from horrific injuries, I don't like how he drops f bombs every thirty seconds when kids are potentially within earshot but on the flipside his courage and mental strength are something to be admired.

Equally can't blame him for taking the wild card I just hope he stays safe and injury free for the coming year he's overdue a run without his body taking more knocks.

[Byker Biker]

14 minutes ago, TTT said:

Bang on.

Mayfield Sports not only have the Money but they've also got leverge when it comes to GP Riders who are middle of the pack who normally need a favour via a Wildcard to get back in the following season.

I'm confident that we'll have 50% of Team GB's eventual World Cup line-up in Ipswich race suits this year.

At this stage we don't know which company Mr Coleman will use although the events company was recently founded. We also don't know how these companies will be capitalised although lenders will want cross guarantees and covenants in place or a PG with Mr C. This doesn't make the business flush with cash but will be in a great position if it performs financially. If he is the new owner he is to be applauded for taking the risks.

Don't get carried away with "loads a money" it's about the business end of matters.

[Hamish McRaker]

1 hour ago, Youhave2minutes said:

Just one big p*55take as usual.

So it's all Paul Starke's fault🤣

Edited 3 hours ago by Hamish McRaker
Add

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

46 minutes ago, JamesB said:

Sorry, but that’s a ridiculous statement in relation to the Ipswich takeover.

 I have said before that if they complete the financial and legal due diligence in 6-8 weeks, then that would be some going. 

Just on the legals; Spedeworth will have a head lease with the ultimate owners and a sub lease with Louis. Both leases will have required a full legal review and the head lease may have restrictive covenants about who Spedeworth can sub let to and probably requires prior approval of the ultimate owner to any novation of an existing lease or creation of a new sub lease.

I seem to remember reading somewhere, quite a while ago that the ultimate owner is the original Ipswich Speedway which if true means that entity was formed many years ago and may have a complex ownership structure e.g. some form of Trust structure and be governed by a Trust Deed, etc which would complicate decisions and approvals even more.

The sale and purchase of a business is a complex and time consuming process.

That right you keep giving the powers that be a pass and nothing changes, Ipswich have done damage to premiership in the eyes of the public this season, they with the bspl and speedway futures have made a terrible situation absolutely dire and it’s unacceptable 

[SteveLyric2]

48 minutes ago, YeOldPitGate said:

Hence the rumours around Woffy I guess he's possibly Englands greatest ever rider but personally I think his days at the very top are over plus he's coming back from horrific injuries, I don't like how he drops f bombs every thirty seconds when kids are potentially within earshot but on the flipside his courage and mental strength are something to be admired.

Equally can't blame him for taking the wild card I just hope he stays safe and injury free for the coming year he's overdue a run without his body taking more knocks.

...but he is a fairly good DJ....!!😁

[JamesB]

9 minutes ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

That right you keep giving the powers that be a pass and nothing changes, Ipswich have done damage to premiership in the eyes of the public this season, they with the bspl and speedway futures have made a terrible situation absolutely dire and it’s unacceptable 

I have simply outlined the challenges, complexities and timescales as they relate to the sale and purchase of a business. You can ignore those realities if you so choose.

I assume from your comments that Louis should have been prohibited from selling his own business and must continue to own it ad infinitum - bizarre on a number of levels.

I have made no reference to the BSPL or Speedway Futures, so not sure how I am giving them a free pass.

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

8 minutes ago, JamesB said:

I have simply outlined the challenges, complexities and timescales as they relate to the sale and purchase of a business. You can ignore those realities if you so choose.

I assume from your comments that Louis should have been prohibited from selling his own business and must continue to own it ad infinitum - bizarre on a number of levels.

I have made no reference to the BSPL or Speedway Futures, so not sure how I am giving them a free pass.

Ipswich are holding the sport to ransom and the bspl are letting them, well fine but when the crowds are gone don’t go blaming anyone else, it’s a farce and in part it’s caused by Chris Louis and Ipswich, this should of been sorted months ago not weeks away from the season 

Edited 2 hours ago by THE DEAN MACHINE

[TB1]

From an historical point of view at the end of 1988 can anyone remember how long the takeover from Chris Shears to Dave Pavitt, Mike Western and JL took?

[dontforgetthefueltapsbruv]

15 hours ago, Steve Irving said:

What would Robert Lambert’s average be out of interest?

If he signs for the Witches I think he should come back on a 6 

[THE DEAN MACHINE]

3 hours ago, ouch said:

I wondered how long it would be before it was Belle Vue’s fault (as one of the other Premiership owners). Took longer than I thought but it’s finally arrived. 
I’ll bring it up with them when I next see them so if you could provide some bullet points as to their wrong doing I’ll post their response. 

Well I guess they could ask their own fans when the crowds have gone to a new low, as my own family are belle vue fans and are saying they have little interest in this farce. Question BV promotion should be asking is are they alone ???? And if they ain’t well where does the blame lie?? 

Edited 50 minutes ago by THE DEAN MACHINE