Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2008 22:14:03 GMT
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Robins set to ride out credit crunch
8:40am Wednesday 12th November 2008
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By Owen Houlihan »
GARY Patchett is confident Swindon Robins are in good enough shape to ride out the economic storm hitting speedway - but admits some of the club’s long-term ambitions may need to be reviewed.
Unlike at other Elite League clubs, Patchett and co-owner Terry Russell are not relying on taking an income from the Abbey Stadium, leaving them in a better position than some to cope with the financial cold front blowing through the sport.
This week’s crucial British Speedway Promoters’ Association Conference in Spain - which Patchett will attend - will discuss the future direction of the sport, with clubs facing a hit to their sponsorship incomes - in turn having a knock-on effect on team budgets and gate receipts - as a result of the credit crunch and recession.
Patchett and Russell have always placed great emphasis on building a solid future foundation for the Robins club, including the acquisition of a formidable rider asset base to choose from.
But with across-the-board belt-tightening looming, Patchett concedes that is a situation that will need to be looked at over the coming year.
“We are fortunate in that Terry and I have different income streams,’’ he told the Swindon Advertiser. “We’re looking for the club to be self-sufficient, but it doesn’t have to give us an income - although it would be nice!’’ He added: “One thing our club has done is made investments, especially in terms of getting riders on to our asset base. Maybe that is a situation that changes slightly this year, but until we find out what is decided at the conference, we really don’t know.’’ Peterborough are one team to suffer from financial strife in the last year, but Panthers promoter Mick Bratley is determined measures agreed at the meeting last November, including points limit changes, should remain in place, despite whispers of further cuts.
Bratley said: “As far as I am concerned the points limit for next year must be 39.90 - that is what we reluctantly had to subscribe to at last year's AGM, and we are intent on following that mandate.
“We have had to endure the pain throughout 2008 and now it is someone else's turn to do that in 2009.
“Some sort of formula needs to be applied to give all riders who obtained a GSA (Green Sheet Average) in 2008 a very small reduction to try and bring some normality back.
“This would go some way pacifying the fans who have questioned the weaker product they have witnessed in the past few months.’’ The BSPA conference starts on Thursday, concluding on Sunday.
LEIGH Adams has agreed a deal to join new Swedish Elite League champions Lejonen.
Adams had been a long-serving member of the MasarnaAvesta squad, but his former club, on the verge of bunkruptcy, were set to drop out of the Elite League even before their relegation was confirmed.
Adams will ride in around half of Lejonen's fixtures next season.
Robins teammate Troy Batchelor will move from Dackarna to Smedarna.
