Now the end is near!

[autrey]

Following the announcement last night what hope is there for the future of the Falcons? I think most of us knew from a recent press release in the Express & Echo that Speedway at the Westpoint Arena was seriously in doubt to the extreme of being a dead duck.

Without going into verbal contracts that have allegedly been agreed it seems apparent now the Falcons will be having at least a season's sabbatical next year.

I can only see two possible locations for the Falcons to try in an attempt to keep the sport flying in "Devon" with the word "Devon" being the optimum word.

I have often wondered why the Management/Promotion have not conducted a survey during this period to find out where regular Falcon supporters travel from to attend home meetings, with many making the trek up the A38 from Plymouth and down the M5 to get their weekly dose of Speedway, although the latter I would suggest has altered since the sports introduction at Somerset.

I would suspect that the number of supporters who actually live in Exeter is a lot fewer than many would imagine and thus this could/should be bared in mind when thinking of the relocation as many have become accustomed to traveling for their weekly fix.

With that in mind I have pinpointed two possible sites, one is the racecourse at Newton Abbot, where they already have Stock Car racing in place, so one would imagines issues such a noise pollution would be of limiting consequence.

The other site, perhaps more logically to move to would be Haldon racecourse. Having previously staging Longtrack in the late 70's, early 80's the outline of the training track used for the Speedway Schools is still in place.

The downside of course to Haldon is the extreme conditions of weather it can have. This could be overcome by running perhaps on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon - imagine the number of Holiday makers that pass the site on those days, just capturing a few would I suggest offset the supporters lost in such a move.

The only downside as mentioned earlier would be the weather but perhaps a shorter season could be utilised with the non-entrance of the Premier Trophy - surely the BSPA would allow this if it meant a track remaining open.

Finally, last night David Short informed the crowd that Go Speed have pulled out of the club. I was under the impression that Go Speed held the Falcons license - can anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks for reading, just my thought's....Keep the Falcons flying!

[paulboy]

Stock cars haven't been at Newton Abbot for years and I'm told noise was the reason they went, so that looks a non-starter.

I'd be very surprised if Haldon isn't the venue Dave Short spoke about last night and the weather extremes you talk about are probably one of the "disadvantages" he referred to.

I do think that a year out could be a terrible option (even if forced upon the Falcons). I'm sure many fans would get out of the speedway habit and would have forgotten all about it by 2007. The Falcons need to be running in 2006 if at all possible (and if its not you'd have to ask why after all this time for planning).

[Nevs]

Todays local press report.

Exeter speedway president Sir John Evans has insisted he is still optimistic about the future of the sport in the city - despite the Falcons suffering a huge double blow last night.

The Exeter team's prospects were plunged into grave doubt after promoter David Short confirmed that their hopes of moving to Westpoint were now non-existent and that their main backer could pull out at the end of the season.

Go Speed, which is run by BSPA supremo Terry Russell, invested in the ailing Falcons at the end of last year and had hoped to bring world-class racing to Devon by moving the team to a purpose-built stadium at Westpoint and taking Exeter into the Elite League. But Short finally confirmed to fans last night that speedway would not be moving to the East Devon showground - and that Go Speed may now decide to withdraw.

The Falcons must secure a backer if they are to prolong their 76-year existence. And they must also find a new venue as their County Ground home is to be demolished to make way for housing next year.


Club president Evans joined Short for a meeting with Westpoint officials last week in a last-ditch bid to persuade them to allow speedway to move to the showground.

But that failed and Evans said: "I'm disappointed because I thought it was a good opportunity. But we have got other plans and we must go forward.

"We have another opportunity for a track which is almost as good. I'm optimistic because there is a lot of interest in keeping speedway going next season - it's a question of timing. It's a setback and a disappointment, but there are other opportunities."

The first Falcons meeting held at the County Ground was in 1929 and they are now one of the sport's longest-running teams.

They currently compete in the Premier League - which is the middle of British speedway's three leagues - but Go Speed wanted to take them into the top-flight Elite League, which boasts many of the world's best riders.

Short explained why Westpoint were no longer interested in hosting speedway.

"It was partly because of local opposition, which was far more vehement than expected, but they have also found an alternative use for the site," he said.

"These facts were reported to Go Speed and they have indicated they may no longer be involved after this season.

"But they are anxious that Exeter speedway continues and they will be giving it every assistance they can.

"People have got to realise that if it wasn't for Go Speed we would have closed down at the end of last season. We have got to be grateful to them and I would fully understand their reasons if they decided not to proceed."

But Short insisted Go Speed's possible withdrawal and the lack of a new stadium would not consign one of the city's sporting institutions to the dustbin.

"This doesn't mean the end of Exeter speedway," he said.

"There is another site that would fit the bill. That site has one shortcoming but in every other respect it's as good as Westpoint.

"Negotiations are at an early stage but the owner seems far more enthusiastic than Westpoint's ever were.

"It's going to be very difficult to get something in place for next season. There is a chance we will be running next year, but there is an excellent chance we will be running in 2007."

Exeter City Councillor Barry McNamara, who has been a Falcons fan for more than 40 years, revealed that the city council is trying to help the club survive.

"It's vitally important that speedway continues and we're trying to do all we can," McNamara said. "About 18 months ago we passed a motion saying that we would do all we can to facilitate a new stadium and we're working very hard.

"It's essential the city keeps a speedway team, especially when you look at the money it brings into the local economy.

"I've been going to speedway at the County Ground since 1961 and the last thing I would want is to see it disappear now."

Falcons supporters' club secretary and treasurer Robin Playsted admitted the news about Westpoint had almost been expected by the fans.

"It had been suspected for some time, but it is still extremely disappointing," he said. "But there are a lot of tracks that have closed for one reason or another and gone on to re-open at another site, such as Weymouth, St Austell and Newport. As long as there's a will I think we'll be back."

Exeter supporter Alan Hinder added: "I have always been confident the Falcons will come back. Everybody who was at the County Ground last night loves the club and when you've got people power behind you that can go a long way.

"It would be a shame to miss a year, but we would come back from that bigger and stronger."

[slipslider]

I really would like to believe that last comment. I'm sure that, assuming there were to be no counter speedway attraction in the area and the make up of the team was competitive we would all get back into it asap. Access, if it were to be Haldon, would be a helluva lot simpler than it is at present and may attract those that travel a tad farther than the more local 10 mile radius. The issue, as I see it could be one of complacency, - letting things drift, not pushing it on and not considering those who would, presumably flock back in 2007. If 2006 is seen as unlikely at this time, what would be stopping some sort of track share arrangement with the Rabbles. It happens in soccer why not pursue a one off season of Mondays at Highbridge - this would keep the interest going for the Devonians and increase the revenue for Somerset and putting on one or two coaches each week by the promoters - what a great P.R. trip that would be. Not only that it would also give us all greater faith in the management that the Falcons will be flying again in 2007 !

[DontGoThere]

Slipslider, Your suggestion of a track share with the Somers**t Rabble is a better option than no speedway at all for the Falcons and their supporters. I know not everyone who currently goes to the CG would be able to go to the OTA, but if people find other things to do on a Monday evening during 2006 they may not be tempted back in 2007 - the management are very naive if they think a years break will make no difference. Exeter is currently one of the best supported Premier League Clubs - furthermore at the OTA you can race, this year the CG track has become very processional, you can count the genuine passes on 2 hands.

[Nevs]

Arent Somerset limited to one night a weeks racing only from the planning consent?

Not sure.

[davekirby]

Don't think so Nevs. They have ridden 2 meetings in 1 week this season if I recall correctly. Plus I am sure Mr Hancock the farmer would love having his car park £1 coins doubled for a season. It strikes me that Exeter 'promotion' has always had a habit of avoiding what the fans cry out for, and I'm sure (knowin Mr Toogood is a really cool bloke) that they would be more than happy to accommodate their friends from down the M5!....on the same subject what happened to Trelawny, used to love going down there. Any chance of a Trelawny/Exeter promotion joining forces? ...on another subject I was disgusted to see a bloke wearing an Exeter Chiefs shirt last night...after they're evicting us we should be burning them not wearing them!

[davekirby]

oh by the way....all you stupid idiots having a go at Seemond, just remember he held our team together for the past few seasons. No1 can ride the CG like he can hen he's on top form. I have never ever seen another rider look so stylish on a bike around the County Ground.

[Nevs]

davekirby said:

on another subject I was disgusted to see a bloke wearing an Exeter Chiefs shirt last night...after they're evicting us we should be burning them not wearing them!

Probably bar staff collecting plastic glasses.-no need to rub it in is there -Did you slap him?

[squibby]

davekirby said:

oh by the way....all you stupid idiots having a go at Seemond, just remember he held our team together for the past few seasons. No1 can ride the CG like he can hen he's on top form. I have never ever seen another rider look so stylish on a bike around the County Ground.

Could not agree more when he makes the start. However, when he doesn't he looks anything but
' stylish ' , I'm afraid.

If he made anything like the effort to get up and past riders that Pavel did last monday night, then the
' stupid idiots ' would have no complaints, I'm sure.

You can count me as one of the ' idiots ' as I quite frequently have a pop at SS - the difference perhaps is that I've said it to his face more than once, trying to understand why it is that he blows hot and then cold so often. Sadly, I've never been able to get to the bottom of it, and I doubt anyone ever will. Seemond is an enigma.

Despite my frustrations with him, I have been involved with him in certain sponsorship matters for three seasons now - somehow his good points as a rider always seem to outweigh the bad !