Reading to "use" the Premier League?

[admin]

I see the following quote attributed to Reading co-promoter Malcolm Holloway on speedwayworld.tv:

"I think that we should go back to the Premier, probably just for one season and rebuild and then come back into the Elite."

Thus, Holloway seems to regard the Premier League as an entity to be used and then cast aside.

[Deleted]

I don't think that that is what he means by saying this, reading have obviously struggled financially this season and that is plain for us all to see and maybe they think that if they drop down and compete well at premier level that the money they earn will help them to stand on their own two feet in the elite league that would be my opinion of it anyway it doesn't mean i'm right

[admin]

But does the Premier League want to act as a place for Elite League clubs to recharge their finances before heading back into the Elite League?

[Deleted]

no and that should not be that be the case maybe they should make teams who drop down stay for at least three years or something would that help? i'm not sure but it's not really fair on the current premier teams if elite teams just drop down for a year

[schumi]

Could this be a deciding factor?

www.readingspeedway.com/comment.php?comment.poll.4

Reading are asking for opinions on whether to change race nights to a Friday. With two other elite league teams already running that night, and then the added problem of GPs, could that influence the decision to drop down?

[Deleted]

schumi said:

Could this be a deciding factor?

www.readingspeedway.com/comment.php?comment.poll.4

Reading are asking for opinions on whether to change race nights to a Friday. With two other elite league teams already running that night, and then the added problem of GPs, could that influence the decision to drop down?

This is just Reading trying to flannel their fans . I was told a couple of weeks ago that nobody among the promoters expected Reading to be in the EL next year . You cant run speedway with the costs in the EL on crowds of 750 .

[donsking]

I'd rather see teams drop down than disappear altogether.

I just hope the PL doesn't decide to get all precious about itself and squeeze out the EL clubs that really can't sustain the costs anymore.

The one thing we can be certain of is that if teams stop operating, even for a short time, there's a good chance they could lose their facilities for ever.

[Deleted]

donsking said:

I'd rather see teams drop down than disappear altogether.

I just hope the PL doesn't decide to get all precious about itself and squeeze out the EL clubs that really can't sustain the costs anymore.

The one thing we can be certain of is that if teams stop operating, even for a short time, there's a good chance they could lose their facilities for ever.

The PL wont get all smug and up it's own arse about teams dropping down . But people have long memorys and remember the one big league and how it nearly finished a few teams .
The PL isn't perfect , but it has it's house in order compared to the shambles that is the EL . A sixteen to eighteen team league is about perfect - it would be unworkable only about 6 teams in the top league and 20 odd in the 2nd tier .

[Deleted]

paulco said:

donsking said:

I'd rather see teams drop down than disappear altogether.

I just hope the PL doesn't decide to get all precious about itself and squeeze out the EL clubs that really can't sustain the costs anymore.

The one thing we can be certain of is that if teams stop operating, even for a short time, there's a good chance they could lose their facilities for ever.

The PL wont get all smug and up it's own arse about teams dropping down . But people have long memorys and remember the one big league and how it nearly finished a few teams .
The PL isn't perfect , but it has it's house in order compared to the shambles that is the EL . A sixteen to eighteen team league is about perfect - it would be unworkable only about 6 teams in the top league and 20 odd in the 2nd tier .

As I'm sure you know, we've had 21 teams competing in league racing in this country (and a little bit of yours ) before. The speedway season is about 32 weeks long, so 20 home league meetings, between one and five KO Cup meetings, a couple of rain-off dates and maybe an individual competition and the odd challenge thrown in, and you've got a good fixture list without some of the Mickey Mouse competitions.

[donsking]

paulco said:

donsking said:

I'd rather see teams drop down than disappear altogether.

I just hope the PL doesn't decide to get all precious about itself and squeeze out the EL clubs that really can't sustain the costs anymore.

The one thing we can be certain of is that if teams stop operating, even for a short time, there's a good chance they could lose their facilities for ever.

The PL wont get all smug and up it's own arse about teams dropping down . But people have long memorys and remember the one big league and how it nearly finished a few teams .
The PL isn't perfect , but it has it's house in order compared to the shambles that is the EL . A sixteen to eighteen team league is about perfect - it would be unworkable only about 6 teams in the top league and 20 odd in the 2nd tier .

What happened with one big league Paul, I wasn't following the sport much when that was happening.

[Deleted]

donsking said:

paulco said:

The PL wont get all smug and up it's own arse about teams dropping down . But people have long memorys and remember the one big league and how it nearly finished a few teams .
The PL isn't perfect , but it has it's house in order compared to the shambles that is the EL . A sixteen to eighteen team league is about perfect - it would be unworkable only about 6 teams in the top league and 20 odd in the 2nd tier .

What happened with one big league Paul, I wasn't following the sport much when that was happening.

It was a bit of a shambles . It was foisted on the Division 2 clubs who then were forced to sign riders they couldn't really afford . Glasgow and Exeter were two clubs who suffered most . Glasgow were forced out in 96 and Scotland were represented by the Scottish Monarchs . Which was another disaster as Edinburgh were homeless and the team raced at Shawfield . You didn't have to be a rocket scientist to realise a team racing in Glasgow , calling themselves the Monarchs , wasn't going to work .

Kev i know the New National League had over twenty teams , but i really dont think that could work nowadays . Just not really enough riders to fit the bill if the points limit is set ridiculously low .

[Deleted]

I don't think Reading are will "use" the PL at all, imo after speaking to Wellie at the last home meeting of the season it's quite clear where he thinks our best future lies.

Wellie wants PL racing, he's a big fan of the league and the attitude of the majority of the riders. He was around Reading long enough as a rider/friend/supporter during the Bliss years to realise Reading is a PL club and can be sustained at that level.

Please also note that the comment attributed to Wellie that Sub's attention was drawn to stems from The Evening Post which is well known for printing bollocks and mis-interpretations of quotes.

[donsking]

paulco said:

donsking said:

What happened with one big league Paul, I wasn't following the sport much when that was happening.

It was a bit of a shambles . It was foisted on the Division 2 clubs who then were forced to sign riders they couldn't really afford . Glasgow and Exeter were two clubs who suffered most . Glasgow were forced out in 96 and Scotland were represented by the Scottish Monarchs . Which was another disaster as Edinburgh were homeless and the team raced at Shawfield . You didn't have to be a rocket scientist to realise a team racing in Glasgow , calling themselves the Monarchs , wasn't going to work .

Kev i know the New National League had over twenty teams , but i really dont think that could work nowadays . Just not really enough riders to fit the bill if the points limit is set ridiculously low .

I can see how that would be a problem, but it's a hard nut to crack.

On the one hand, you have to have a league that can accomodate the top riders (I'm assuming 'top riders' to mean riders on an average of 9 or thereabouts upwards) and give them sensible opposition, on the other, that has to be financially viable.

Every time I start thinking about these things, I can only reach one conclusion; the sport has so many problems, ripping it up and starting again is the only real option.

[Deleted]

wacks said:

I don't think Reading are will "use" the PL at all, imo after speaking to Wellie at the last home meeting of the season it's quite clear where he thinks our best future lies.

Wellie wants PL racing, he's a big fan of the league and the attitude of the majority of the riders. He was around Reading long enough as a rider/friend/supporter during the Bliss years to realise Reading is a PL club and can be sustained at that level.

Disagree with that mate, Reading are a D1 team who've spent far too many years in D2. Cast your mind back to the days of JD and DJ, Anders Michanek and Per Jonsson.............. very successful times I'm sure you'd agree, and four D1 championships thrown in for good measure.

The most important thing is that Reading survive, and clearly to do that over a sustained period that they have to break-even financially. With the new, 'user friendly' promotion you have, I truly believe EL is the place for you, but if circumstances dictate otherwise I personally hope it is only temporary and that you can move back up very soon.

[Deleted]

donsking said:

Every time I start thinking about these things, I can only reach one conclusion; the sport has so many problems, ripping it up and starting again is the only real option.

It's two teams of seven racing against each other over 15 heats . A simple sport totally wasted by a maze of rules and regulations .
Ripping it all up and starting again is probably one of the best options open to the sport .