Post by speedway_history on Aug 29, 2008 11:02:01 GMT 1
Felt this deserved a thread of its own, and hopefully it will answer a few of the questions Peterborough fans have. I've left this one open for comments. Many thanks to Mick for his honesty, and exclusive insight.
You were quoted in a recent newspaper article as saying "the owner has barely uttered three words to me in the last five weeks". Have you since discussed the situation with Colin, and how are relations between the two of you at present?
The paper quoted me wrong it was actually three sentences in five weeks. Let’s just say we both know where we stand. There is no relationship and hasn’t been for some time.
In your opinion, would the deal that fell through have ensured Hans remained with the club, and solved any existing financial problems? And was the offer for a full take-over?
Yes, yes and yes.
Did the offer come out of the blue, or was it planned to have some changes?
The offer was being discussed for several weeks.
Did you ever consider putting in an offer for the club yourself?
No.
You've had a very positive reaction to the work you did for the Panthers - would you ever consider promoting again, perhaps with another club?
Yes.
Can you see a future for speedway in Peterborough?
Definitely, but several changes need to be undertaken and not just with Peterborough, I think the sport needs to change, I think the admission price is too expensive, it excludes a lot of people, especially those with families. The sport needs more money coming in to it to enable clubs to put their admission prices down. Clubs need to work hard on commercial sponsorship and advertising the club. There are sponsors out there, but you have to go and find them, they won’t come to you and the supporters won’t come if all you do is open the gates. Our attendances have grown slightly during my time, I believe, not a lot, but they have grown. I also think the EL should have two set nights a week for racing.
You've cut your ties with Peterborough Speedway. Will you still be supporting the club, or does your loyalty now lie solely with Hans?
I have supported the club since I was a schoolboy, that won’t change. I have always had a loyalty for Hans, he is part of my family, and we have been through a lot together.
Can you see a resolution to the Andersen situation; are you optimistic he'll be back riding for the Panthers, or are you both now looking at other options?
I can’t really answer that, the key to the resolution is held by someone else.
Hans has been given a 14 day ban, which most agree is unfair, but the rules state that in cases like this it should be 28 days. Why were the rules changed in this instance?
I don’t think the rule on the number of days is set in stone, there are obviously reasons why it was 14 days instead of the normal 28 days. I would think it would be unfair on the staging opposition in the coming days if Panthers arrived with a six point Premier League rider instead of a number one. Conversely it is hugely unfair on Hans as he can not now accept the invitation to ride in Belle Vue’s 80th celebrations. However, 14 days definitely does not punish Hans as much as 28 days would have done, so I think this has been taken into consideration and a happy (ish) medium reached.
There are suggestions that Hans wasn't riding to his full potential over recent months due to him not being paid. Why did he continue to ride if the situation had been dragging on for so long?
I disagree he is far too professional for that. He has changed to GM recently, which has had more of an effect. Additionally he struggled with the new type Jawa early in the season. If the club had been taken over he would have got what he was owed, we were both hanging on in the hope it would happen and it should have happened, I still can’t believe it didn’t. The stuff outstanding since 2007 has been promised over and over again. Talk is cheap. In the end we decided we could only deal in reality and not myths.
Do you think the BSPA should have measures in place to stop this kind of thing happening again with other riders?
I think it could be looked at. It’s a pretty unique situation; I know the SRA are pushing for something. Incidentally, the SRA have been brilliant and yes Hans is a member.
And finally, do you have any words of reassurance for the Panthers fans?
Well we have been here before a couple of times and come through it, and I’m hopeful everything will be ok this time. Maybe it’s short term pain for long term gain, who knows. We all have lots of good memories and no one can take them away.
Copyright, the Weird World Of Subedei, 2008.
Not to be reproduced on other websites.
You were quoted in a recent newspaper article as saying "the owner has barely uttered three words to me in the last five weeks". Have you since discussed the situation with Colin, and how are relations between the two of you at present?
The paper quoted me wrong it was actually three sentences in five weeks. Let’s just say we both know where we stand. There is no relationship and hasn’t been for some time.
In your opinion, would the deal that fell through have ensured Hans remained with the club, and solved any existing financial problems? And was the offer for a full take-over?
Yes, yes and yes.
Did the offer come out of the blue, or was it planned to have some changes?
The offer was being discussed for several weeks.
Did you ever consider putting in an offer for the club yourself?
No.
You've had a very positive reaction to the work you did for the Panthers - would you ever consider promoting again, perhaps with another club?
Yes.
Can you see a future for speedway in Peterborough?
Definitely, but several changes need to be undertaken and not just with Peterborough, I think the sport needs to change, I think the admission price is too expensive, it excludes a lot of people, especially those with families. The sport needs more money coming in to it to enable clubs to put their admission prices down. Clubs need to work hard on commercial sponsorship and advertising the club. There are sponsors out there, but you have to go and find them, they won’t come to you and the supporters won’t come if all you do is open the gates. Our attendances have grown slightly during my time, I believe, not a lot, but they have grown. I also think the EL should have two set nights a week for racing.
You've cut your ties with Peterborough Speedway. Will you still be supporting the club, or does your loyalty now lie solely with Hans?
I have supported the club since I was a schoolboy, that won’t change. I have always had a loyalty for Hans, he is part of my family, and we have been through a lot together.
Can you see a resolution to the Andersen situation; are you optimistic he'll be back riding for the Panthers, or are you both now looking at other options?
I can’t really answer that, the key to the resolution is held by someone else.
Hans has been given a 14 day ban, which most agree is unfair, but the rules state that in cases like this it should be 28 days. Why were the rules changed in this instance?
I don’t think the rule on the number of days is set in stone, there are obviously reasons why it was 14 days instead of the normal 28 days. I would think it would be unfair on the staging opposition in the coming days if Panthers arrived with a six point Premier League rider instead of a number one. Conversely it is hugely unfair on Hans as he can not now accept the invitation to ride in Belle Vue’s 80th celebrations. However, 14 days definitely does not punish Hans as much as 28 days would have done, so I think this has been taken into consideration and a happy (ish) medium reached.
There are suggestions that Hans wasn't riding to his full potential over recent months due to him not being paid. Why did he continue to ride if the situation had been dragging on for so long?
I disagree he is far too professional for that. He has changed to GM recently, which has had more of an effect. Additionally he struggled with the new type Jawa early in the season. If the club had been taken over he would have got what he was owed, we were both hanging on in the hope it would happen and it should have happened, I still can’t believe it didn’t. The stuff outstanding since 2007 has been promised over and over again. Talk is cheap. In the end we decided we could only deal in reality and not myths.
Do you think the BSPA should have measures in place to stop this kind of thing happening again with other riders?
I think it could be looked at. It’s a pretty unique situation; I know the SRA are pushing for something. Incidentally, the SRA have been brilliant and yes Hans is a member.
And finally, do you have any words of reassurance for the Panthers fans?
Well we have been here before a couple of times and come through it, and I’m hopeful everything will be ok this time. Maybe it’s short term pain for long term gain, who knows. We all have lots of good memories and no one can take them away.
Copyright, the Weird World Of Subedei, 2008.
Not to be reproduced on other websites.