Ipswich Witches 2026

[89buttons]

47 minutes ago, ShanoXtra said:

“The club sale had (past tense) stalled due to renewal of the track. Now this has been signed and within the next couple of weeks will be completed”. The point I made is why is it taking over 4 months to renew a contract when you knew clearly even this time last year when the renewal was needed, therefore the sale could have happened sooner. No struggle around here. Just questions of poor business decisions.

Perhaps spedeworth were hesitant to renew the lease without surety of who the incoming tenants would be, would make sense that don’t you think 🤷‍♂️

[gjcone44]

so if sale doesn't go thru its a 4 team premiership. sale will go thru ,but it hasn't yet, but sale will go thru, but it hasn't yet, but sale will go thru but it hasn't yet. 🤣

[ShanoXtra]

23 minutes ago, 89buttons said:

Perhaps spedeworth were hesitant to renew the lease without surety of who the incoming tenants would be, would make sense that don’t you think 🤷‍♂️

No because when you sign a contract it gives you a guarantee that whoever signs it will pay the committed amount, and if you fail to do so you could end up in court. It doesn’t matter who the new tenants are because if Chris Louis done a deal with Spedeworth before selling then whoever he sold the club to would have to commit to his contractual obligation within the renewal.

Edited 18 hours ago by ShanoXtra
.

[Hawk127]

2 minutes ago, ShanoXtra said:

No because when you sign a contract it gives you a guarantee that whoever signs it will pay the committed amount, and if you fail to do so you could end up in court. It doesn’t matter who the new tenants are because if Chris Louis done a deal with Spedeworth before selling then whoever he sold the club to would have to commit to his contractual obligation within the renewal.

That is not strictly true. The lease sets out the terms under which a tenant acquires the right to use the facility but unless the terms of the lease include guarantees regarding the rental monies, if a tenant fails to pay the rental they forfeit the lease and it reverts back to the landlord who can then let the premise to another tenant. The chances of it ending up in court are slim given that the costs outweigh the result. Even if CL had done a deal before putting the club up for sale, it would still involve an assignment and that in turn involves due diligence etc. The landlord still has to approve an assignment, the tenant cannot simply reassign a lease.

[mikebv]

18 minutes ago, gjcone44 said:

so if sale doesn't go thru its a 4 team premiership. sale will go thru ,but it hasn't yet, but sale will go thru, but it hasn't yet, but sale will go thru but it hasn't yet. 🤣

See....

Now you've got it....

[ShanoXtra]

7 minutes ago, Hawk127 said:

That is not strictly true. The lease sets out the terms under which a tenant acquires the right to use the facility but unless the terms of the lease include guarantees regarding the rental monies, if a tenant fails to pay the rental they forfeit the lease and it reverts back to the landlord who can then let the premise to another tenant. The chances of it ending up in court are slim given that the costs outweigh the result. Even if CL had done a deal before putting the club up for sale, it would still involve an assignment and that in turn involves due diligence etc. The landlord still has to approve an assignment, the tenant cannot simply reassign a lease.

It depends entirely on the wording of the contract which we wouldn’t know. The stadium owner could simply need approval of the new tenants and thus carrying over the rental agreement for a clean take. My point is that CL actively announced his early decision after the 2025 season to continue in 2026 and then done a U Turn later down the line. He was originally due to run this season therefore, for any proactive business sense should have already agreed a renewal for 2026 season. It also depends on if the renewal is with Ipswich speedway LTD or worded as Chris Louis, if it’s under the club name it could technically simply transfer over.

[noaksey]

56 minutes ago, 89buttons said:

Perhaps spedeworth were hesitant to renew the lease without surety of who the incoming tenants would be, would make sense that don’t you think 🤷‍♂️

There was presumably a procedure for assignment or a new lease has been entered in to depending 

Edited 17 hours ago by noaksey

[Hawk127]

7 minutes ago, ShanoXtra said:

It depends entirely on the wording of the contract which we wouldn’t know. The stadium owner could simply need approval of the new tenants and thus carrying over the rental agreement for a clean take. My point is that CL actively announced his early decision after the 2025 season to continue in 2026 and then done a U Turn later down the line. He was originally due to run this season therefore, for any proactive business sense should have already agreed a renewal for 2026 season. It also depends on if the renewal is with Ipswich speedway LTD or worded as Chris Louis, if it’s under the club name it could technically simply transfer over.

You rarely transfer a lease but tend to assign and the landlords would want to ensure that at the very least they are not in a less advantageous position and most landlords taking on new unknown tenants would seek security of payment in terms of the rental income. This could be by way of a cash deposit, bank guarantee or SBLC in order to ensure they are no worse off.
We do not know when the lease was due to expire, nor do we know the potential new term or the rent increases during the term of the lease and whether it is full repairing etc.. Suffice to say it appears to be a factor which has caused a delay but is not insurmountable.
The fundamental point is CL as a seller knew the status and could have anticipated a potential delay and if not his legal representatives would have be aware of the possibility so the press release is flawed and should be taken with a pinch of salt.

No doubt all will be resolved and 2026 will hear the bikes roar at Foxhall. Just a shame the reputation has been called into question because of the failings of a few.

 

 

 

[89buttons]

1 hour ago, ShanoXtra said:

No because when you sign a contract it gives you a guarantee that whoever signs it will pay the committed amount, and if you fail to do so you could end up in court. It doesn’t matter who the new tenants are because if Chris Louis done a deal with Spedeworth before selling then whoever he sold the club to would have to commit to his contractual obligation within the renewal.

But perhaps as I said spedeworth wanted surety of who the new tenants were to be before the lease renewal was agreed rather than renew with Chris and allow him sell the club to a nightmare mob that spedeworth had no desire to entertain as tenants but were stuck with due to contractual obligations they've just signed

[Tapewrecker]

Could Erik Riss fit in

Edited 16 hours ago by Tapewrecker

[Fromafar]

18 minutes ago, 89buttons said:

But perhaps as I said spedeworth wanted surety of who the new tenants were to be before the lease renewal was agreed rather than renew with Chris and allow him sell the club to a nightmare mob that spedeworth had no desire to entertain as tenants but were stuck with due to contractual obligations they've just signed

Logical ,makes sense.

[1 valve]

5 hours ago, macky said:

Fixtures now showing on speedway web site, how are these going to work with double up riders who have no idea when the so called premiership is going to run meetings, I assume the chapionship will now have first call on them. Also the riders who have no club at all in this country where are they going to end up?  This is beyond a shambles and the promoters should hang their heads in shame.

Premier runs Monday & Thursday. Championship on other days. It’s how doubling up works

 

[TTT]

Unless it's Tai, Then I think it's far too late to get a No.1 in.

[FishersGate]

14 hours ago, TTT said:

It's very poor for the fans not to get a statement earlier in regards to the lease for the stadium being the hold up.

Should have had clarity on that a lot earlier.

 

Stop being so negative you must hate British speedway! 🤣

[Hamish McRaker]

14 minutes ago, TTT said:

Unless it's Tai, Then I think it's far too late to get a No.1 in.

Relax, somebody will be in the no.1 position

[tele52]

18 minutes ago, Hamish McRaker said:

Relax, somebody will be in the no.1 position

As long as it's not Woffinden

[TTT]

13 hours ago, Tapewrecker said:

Could Erik Riss fit in

Northampton apparently along with Lawson, Wright and Kerr.

[siggysigalos]

16 hours ago, THE DEAN MACHINE said:

Yet again stringing supporters along, utter contempt for the customers 

Spot on Dean....Seriously Embarrassing....That statement last night, has given us nothing we didn't know, apart from we have 5 riders signed, whereas before team plans were completed, don't believe any of it. 2 Weeks time is virtually March....

[Steve0]

On 2/4/2026 at 7:39 AM, Aries said:

Looking at the rider averages for each of the last three seasons on the BSPL website, there is a clear downward trajectory of Doyle and Sayfutdinov which suggests losing them isn’t quite the blow it first seems

Doyle

2023- 9.88 GSA 9.24

2024- 10.00 GSA 9.29 (only seven meetings due to season ending injury in May)

2025- 8.69 GSA 7.91

Sayfutdinov

2023- 10.73 GSA 10.07

2024- 9.52 GSA 9.01

2025- 8.75 GSA 8.07

Now you wouldn’t refuse either back, but those stats suggest age and injury has caught up with them. Doyle hasn’t looked the same rider since that season ending crash at Lynn in 2024 and it’s quite an eye opener to see Emil averaging TWO points less last season than his first season here.

ironically we finally ended up winning the title when they both had their poorest seasons by some distance!

Or maybe they were just looking after their averages so they didn't ride themselves out of work??

[TTT]

16 hours ago, Aries said:

11.27 left for final two. An eight point number 1 looks unlikely then.

Agree.

Klindt 6.46 and Jenkins 4.49 to round it off?