The
Lunatics ARE in Charge of the Asylum
Posted 31/08/06
Speedway
fans throughout the country have been left reeling today but
an absurd ruling from the 'Management Committee' - surely
as misnomer in itself to include the word management in the
title - preventing Glasgow's Danny Bird from riding in Glasgow's
two local Derby clashes this weekend. Danny appears to have
fallen foul of the management committee by having the audacity
to commit that most despicable of crimes by being ill last
weekend but trying to ride.
The
full statement from the Glasgow promotion on the matter can
be read on the Official
Website and makes grim reading with the promotion indicating
that it is the straw that has broken the camels back as far
as their involvement in Speedway is concerned. As a result
they are likely to put Glasgow Speedway up for sale at the
end of the year.
It
is not unheard of for speedway riders to miss the occasional
meeting through illness - despite their performances on track
they are not super human and are indeed susceptible to things
like flu along with the rest of us mere mortals. Newcastle
badly missed Christian Henry when he was hit by flu and Dan
Giffard of Redcar perhaps gets the award for the most unusual
absence when he withdrew from Redcar's meeting with Edinburgh
because of heatstroke, although he was fit and allowed to
return the next meeting to score 9+1 against Glasgow.
Exactly
why the Management Committee have decided to basically ban
Danny from riding on return from illness is not clear and
with the total disregard shown to the paying public and secretive
attitude of this body we are unlikely to ever find out. The
rule book DOES allow for a rider to be banned for seven days
following a non speedway related absence but in 99% of cases
this is not enforced by the Management Committee and especially
not for common illness such as flu.
Speedway
is in crises and has been for some time and decisions like
this, with no recourse and no plausible explanation given,
only serve to make a further mockery of the sport. Many feel
that an independent body is the only way ahead and that there
are too many little groups looking after themselves within
these committees. Independent ruling bodies certainly have
the aura of fairness about them and are seen as more credible
in the media and by prospective sponsors.
We
could not possibly make any comment about the implication
that many of these committees are made up of promoters merely
looking after their own interests rather than speedway as
a whole. Incidentally, the promoters we understand to have
been party to this apparent ludicrous decision are: -
| Neil Machin |
Currently the promoter at
Sheffield who are sitting second in the Premier League
behind.....oh its Glasgow! Impartial Mr Machin? |
| Chris Van Straaten |
Co-promoter at Redcar and at Wolverhampton.
Mr Van Straaten was very vocal recently when Redcar's
attempt to usurp the rider replacement rules for Matt
Tresarrieu was blocked when Glasgow pointed out that only
a Conference League guest facility was available as he
was not riding in an approved meeting. Redcar are currently
lying 7th in the league and look good for a play off position
although they still maintain they will get a top 4 place.
Impartial Mr van Straatan? |
| Matt Ford |
The Poole promoter is the only one of
the committee not directly linked to a PL club. He has
hit the headlines recently by requesting that Chris Durno
never be allowed to referee a Poole meeting again and
was also in his vehement appeal against James Cockle withdrawing
injured from the recent Peterborough v Poole meeting through
injury after one race - an appeal that is still on going
and which has allowed Poole to appeal the initial finding
in favour of Peterborough. Impartial Mr Ford? |
| Peter Toogood |
The Chairman thought to be so ineffective
by many. Current Somerset co-promoter - Somerset currently
lying 4th in the league and keen to end in the top 4 to
ensure they get a pick at who to ride against in the play
offs and miss the big guns in the first stage. Impartial
Mr Toogood? |
The decision may well have been made on an impartial basis,
there may well be reasons that we are not aware of behind
the decision but until those making the decision come clean
and let us know, it is left to the individual to make their
own mind up. Or perhaps ask one of the parties involved if
you are ever lucky enough to come across them.
Until
such time as decisions are made transparently and with logic,
with full reasons for them being made available to all and
sundry, this type of thing will continue to kill off speedway.
It is not just Glasgow who suffer from the totalitarian style
running of British speedway, others have done so in the past
and unless major changes occur and soon, the future of British
speedway is looking bleak.
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