FishersGate Posted July 16 Report Share Posted July 16 I've given up, posted not long ago about how I haven't attended any meetings this year. Shame and sad. Reason one is money, I'm saving and losing speedway hasn't bothered me too much in the slightest, I only miss the chit chat. Speedway is now expensive to attend. Reason two is the lack of importance, Its sad that I don't care if my team wins the cup this year. I honestly couldn't give a monkeys about it. I could probably put another dozen reasons why I've given up but all of it has been mentioned previously. Until they implement real change I'm not going back. What does the change look like? I'm not sure but I want them to TRY something new at least. Its still the same boring usual suspects in the play offs with the same teams on crap tracks followed by tractor racing. God I could rant on but you don't need to read it. Oh and for those supporters still claiming the premiership is necessary, just look at your attendances, how many clubs are closing or losing money and if the sport is better off with it. I personally have completely given up with it. The premiership DOESNT WORK. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim G Posted July 16 Report Share Posted July 16 (edited) 56 minutes ago, Bagpuss said: I personally don't think that any rider who is going to be absent for a certain percentage of meetings in a season should be permitted to ride in a league whoever they are. Injury can't be helped but one of the things which gets up people's noses more than anything IMO is facilities for riders who are raving elsewhere and not for the team they signed for. I do agree with you as it annoys me that my team Oxford have rarely ran the original 1 to 7 that was announced for the last 2 seasons. My interest as definitely waned due to knowing we are not going to be competitive. Maybe the championship needs a rule that a team can only have one rider riding in Polands top flight that is at an under 21. Then work the fixtures so these riders can turn up on a Friday at the away tracks. It’s been ridiculous how many away meetings Mitch has missed but a lot of that is down to poor fixture planning. It would be a major shame if British youngsters like Cairns,Rushen wouldn’t be riding in the Championship because they wouldn’t be able to make every meeting because they are progressing internationally in our sport. Edited July 16 by Tim G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveWayne Posted July 16 Report Share Posted July 16 26 minutes ago, RS50 said: Would be annoying if they went to a rave instead of speedway.😀 Tai has retired now so we should be OK. 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSmiler Posted July 22 Report Share Posted July 22 (edited) Let’s be honest… nothing will change. This conversation happens every season and still the BSPA serve up this tiny little “Premiership” league. The fact they were originally willing to run this season with a five-team league should tell you all you need to know. Whether Sheffield run or not, the powers that be will continue to bury their heads in the sand until the inevitable “we can no longer financially run a league structure in the UK”. It’s very bleak. Edited July 22 by TheSmiler 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted July 22 Report Share Posted July 22 Stop doubling up Either A) One big league B ) Make Premiership exclusive contracts (likely would need tv and sponsorship) If riders could only ride in one and the Premiership was paying more then the Championship would have to adjust its level to a true 2nd tier or teams could choose to move up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hackett Posted July 22 Report Share Posted July 22 9 hours ago, TheSmiler said: Let’s be honest… nothing will change. This conversation happens every season and still the BSPA serve up this tiny little “Premiership” league. The fact they were originally willing to run this season with a five-team league should tell you all you need to know. Whether Sheffield run or not, the powers that be will continue to bury their heads in the sand until the inevitable “we can no longer financially run a league structure in the UK”. It’s very bleak. Prioe to the season and after running round the SCB + Promoters were quoted as saying we need to get ready for 2027 well in advance of the end of the season and the meetings would be held + decisions made during the season. Have DID they ever take place or will it be heads in the air-fence until Nov or Jan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Smith Posted July 22 Author Report Share Posted July 22 6 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said: Stop doubling up Either A) One big league B ) Make Premiership exclusive contracts (likely would need tv and sponsorship) If riders could only ride in one and the Premiership was paying more then the Championship would have to adjust its level to a true 2nd tier or teams could choose to move up B ) is not and never will be an option. No TV deal in 2027 would pay out the numbers to make top tier Speedway "exclusive". It's not just the BSPL that needs to give their heads a wobble, it's very evident fans do too. It's why a a whole, we don't get listened to either. The concentration has to be on maintaining and/or expansion of what we have. There's still this mentality amongst many fans that we're a big player and we're not, it's not even close. Banning doubling-up (if it's 2 leagues) and guests would be a catastrophic move in such a weak position the sports in. Selfishness is what is killing our once loved sport. It's as simple as that. Me, me, me, me, that is all that's the focus for promoters. Doubling-up and guests is not, never has been and never will be the problem. That is such a fickle issue to this sport. Years gone by, we owned the sport. Everyone wanted to be here and 1000's would turn up to watch. Terrific atmospheres up and down the country. It's now Poland's sport. We need to get over ourselves and embrace being their support act. I've said it before, we can really strengthen our position by being a feeder league to those guys and it's us fans and Promoters that need to get their heads out their ar5e and work with and alongside Poland. Only then, could the pendulum swing back or way. Switch the mindset away from rules and regulations. They will absolutely fix nothing for nobody. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LagutaRacingFan Posted July 22 Report Share Posted July 22 (edited) I've been a speedway fan for over 20 years and this is the first season that I haven't followed. I miss the days of the "Elite League" with Leigh Adams at Swindon, Jason Crump at Belle Vue, Nicki Pedersen at Eastbourne, Lee Richardson at Lakeside and Hans Andersen at Peterborough. Sky Sports with Nigel and Kelvin was the pinnacle for British Speedway. It all went downhill when Sky left the sport. Edited July 22 by LagutaRacingFan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aries Posted July 23 Report Share Posted July 23 (edited) Today’s Speedway Star. He’s been here all of five minutes and he already knows. We need more Richard Coleman’s to come in here, because sadly I fear he’ll be a lone voice and he’ll be completed ignored. “Ipswich chairman Richard Coleman believes British Speedway’s model of self governance must change as he calls for the Premiership and Championship to move further apart in Standard for 2027” Edited July 23 by Aries 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilTheAce Posted July 23 Report Share Posted July 23 1 hour ago, Aries said: Today’s Speedway Star. He’s been here all of five minutes and he already knows. We need more Richard Coleman’s to come in here, because sadly I fear he’ll be a lone voice and he’ll be completed ignored. “Ipswich chairman Richard Coleman believes British Speedway’s model of self governance must change as he calls for the Premiership and Championship to move further apart in Standard for 2027” hes not a lone voice, But the main voice needs to be removed from his post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted July 23 Report Share Posted July 23 9 hours ago, Daniel Smith said: B ) is not and never will be an option. No TV deal in 2027 would pay out the numbers to make top tier Speedway "exclusive". It's not just the BSPL that needs to give their heads a wobble, it's very evident fans do too. It's why a a whole, we don't get listened to either. The concentration has to be on maintaining and/or expansion of what we have. There's still this mentality amongst many fans that we're a big player and we're not, it's not even close. Banning doubling-up (if it's 2 leagues) and guests would be a catastrophic move in such a weak position the sports in. Selfishness is what is killing our once loved sport. It's as simple as that. Me, me, me, me, that is all that's the focus for promoters. Doubling-up and guests is not, never has been and never will be the problem. That is such a fickle issue to this sport. Years gone by, we owned the sport. Everyone wanted to be here and 1000's would turn up to watch. Terrific atmospheres up and down the country. It's now Poland's sport. We need to get over ourselves and embrace being their support act. I've said it before, we can really strengthen our position by being a feeder league to those guys and it's us fans and Promoters that need to get their heads out their ar5e and work with and alongside Poland. Only then, could the pendulum swing back or way. Switch the mindset away from rules and regulations. They will absolutely fix nothing for nobody. I posted what I believed is ideally required not what is realistic or possible 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouch Posted July 23 Report Share Posted July 23 2 hours ago, PhilTheAce said: hes not a lone voice, But the main voice needs to be removed from his post I’m sure the main voice is working away at removing this new “lone voice” as has happened with three voices over tecent years. In the past he was surrounded by like minded cronies on the top table but that has been diluted somewhat this close season. With the addition of Mark & Rob to the inner circle and Cairns and Colman supporting from the outskirts, I see a really opportunity to finally push things through for the better. With Richard’s help maybe we can see us build up rather than continually dumb down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haza Posted July 23 Report Share Posted July 23 11 hours ago, LagutaRacingFan said: I've been a speedway fan for over 20 years and this is the first season that I haven't followed. I miss the days of the "Elite League" with Leigh Adams at Swindon, Jason Crump at Belle Vue, Nicki Pedersen at Eastbourne, Lee Richardson at Lakeside and Hans Andersen at Peterborough. Sky Sports with Nigel and Kelvin was the pinnacle for British Speedway. It all went downhill when Sky left the sport. And whose fault was that ?we had a massive opportunity when Sky was on board but 0% investment by promotions - they just took the money and ran - every track should have could have invested in track covers should have could have invested in junior racing like in Poland Sweden and Denmark - track surface should have been improved better grading equipment investment in stadiums so much that’s should have could have been improved so little wonder Sky Sports walked away 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ouch Posted July 23 Report Share Posted July 23 24 minutes ago, Haza said: And whose fault was that ?we had a massive opportunity when Sky was on board but 0% investment by promotions - they just took the money and ran - every track should have could have invested in track covers should have could have invested in junior racing like in Poland Sweden and Denmark - track surface should have been improved better grading equipment investment in stadiums so much that’s should have could have been improved so little wonder Sky Sports walked away Not quite 0%. Junior racing, check. (Go Dan!) Track surface & equipment, check. Investment in stadium, big check. We’ve not needed to use our track covers as only if there is bad rain during a meeting do we feel the need to call it off. Rain beforehand runs off well due to the investment in an effective drainage system. I get what you say about the squandering of the Sky money in speedway generally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneralMelchett Posted July 23 Report Share Posted July 23 1 hour ago, Haza said: And whose fault was that ?we had a massive opportunity when Sky was on board but 0% investment by promotions - they just took the money and ran - every track should have could have invested in track covers should have could have invested in junior racing like in Poland Sweden and Denmark - track surface should have been improved better grading equipment investment in stadiums so much that’s should have could have been improved so little wonder Sky Sports walked away I can't believe promotions took the money and ran, they simply paid it away to the riders so they had a (better?) chance of winning something! It's part of the circle of sport and, perhaps controversially, us fans have to accept we are sometimes part of the problem here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Smith Posted July 23 Author Report Share Posted July 23 5 hours ago, dontforgetthefueltapsbruv said: I posted what I believed is ideally required not what is realistic or possible Hence why I said "many fans" as it's not directed solely at you. We want and need change to move this sport on and genuine ideas CAN help. As much as they deny it, promoters, managers and riders do read this forum. Ideally, we should be paying £15 admission. Ideally we should have Zmarzlik, Laguta and especially Lambert over here full time. Ideally we should be have major brands as sponsors. We are where we are because British Speedway has been stuck in this mentality that the fans don't matter. A constant dumbing down but increasing prices on us. Because of such measures, even the hardest of hardcore fans have been picking and choosing meetings. Many have given up all together. At fault for all that has been and always will be the clubs owners/promoters. It's never ever the fans fault if a club fails. Seeing Coleman's message, so sadly, makes me laugh. Why, you say?? If this guy keeps "running his mouth" to improve the sport, the other promoters will run him out of town within 4 years. Shamefully, Sandhu, Frost, J.Chapman and to a point M.Ford all ran out of the sport for trying to be 'progressive', many before them and since have also come and gone. Very loudly, it needs to be said to a number of this current promotions:- "You're fukkin s#!t at your job." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
topaz325 Posted July 23 Report Share Posted July 23 (edited) Good interview with Richard Coleman on YouTube chatsgp Edited July 23 by topaz325 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aries Posted July 23 Report Share Posted July 23 27 minutes ago, topaz325 said: Good interview with Richard Coleman on YouTube chatsgp He’s a very impressive figure. Those that sometimes get the Speedway Star but not always, I recommend picking one up and reading the full piece about British Speedway as well the SGP and his thoughts on Emil/Laguta. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted July 23 Report Share Posted July 23 6 minutes ago, Aries said: He’s a very impressive figure. Those that sometimes get the Speedway Star but not always, I recommend picking one up and reading the full piece about British Speedway as well the SGP and his thoughts on Emil/Laguta. Interesting that he says "Poland + One League" next season means exactly that... Not "Poland and One Country"... Which means DU'ing for many, should they decide to ride over here and not Sweden or Denmark, will not be an option... As for his ideas for Speedway in the UK?... All very basic, and common sense, however, they are exactly the same as has been discussed ad nauseum on here for around 20 years at least.. And are all clearly needed... Hence, you can only presume that those running the sport are acutely aware of all the issues they have themselves caused by their lack of vision... But that they simply don't have the capability, be it either financial or the individual leadership skill set, to unpick everything that obviously will need to be unpicked.. Because, given how glaringly obvious the issues are, they would have already started to do so if they were capable people wouldn't they?.. Having personally been fortunate to work with CEO's and Main Board Directors of one of the world's largest retailers, for many years, Richard Coleman comes across to me, as someone with the same political nuance and "bigger picture" skill set that I used to see and hear from those at that rarified level... Not sure how the significant number who are quite happy in their own insular, hobbyist world will receive him though... As his positive vision for the sport in the UK will be a million miles away from theirs..... Best of Luck to him though, UK Speedway is certainly as low as it has been for probably 60 years, so what an opportunity for positive change.. Should those who run it be open enough to allow it.. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebv Posted July 23 Report Share Posted July 23 (edited) 1 hour ago, Daniel Smith said: Hence why I said "many fans" as it's not directed solely at you. We want and need change to move this sport on and genuine ideas CAN help. As much as they deny it, promoters, managers and riders do read this forum. Ideally, we should be paying £15 admission. Ideally we should have Zmarzlik, Laguta and especially Lambert over here full time. Ideally we should be have major brands as sponsors. We are where we are because British Speedway has been stuck in this mentality that the fans don't matter. A constant dumbing down but increasing prices on us. Because of such measures, even the hardest of hardcore fans have been picking and choosing meetings. Many have given up all together. At fault for all that has been and always will be the clubs owners/promoters. It's never ever the fans fault if a club fails. Seeing Coleman's message, so sadly, makes me laugh. Why, you say?? If this guy keeps "running his mouth" to improve the sport, the other promoters will run him out of town within 4 years. Shamefully, Sandhu, Frost, J.Chapman and to a point M.Ford all ran out of the sport for trying to be 'progressive', many before them and since have also come and gone. Very loudly, it needs to be said to a number of this current promotions:- "You're fukkin s#!t at your job." I get the sentiment, however, to many Promoter's, they are doing "their job"... Which, to them, is to put on a Speedway meeting with, (hopefully and ideally), 14 riders in attendance.. Any 14 riders within some ultra flexible adhoc framework... To the majority of Promoters they see funding their hobby, giving riders a chance to earn money, and putting on a Speedway meeting for people to attend, as being their contribution to the sport in the UK... Moving it forwards isn't on their agenda... Independent governance, jeopardy and consequence of meetings, prizes worth winning, and scrutiny of your infrastructure, costs money... Edited July 23 by mikebv 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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