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Post by admin on Apr 12, 2023 19:55:17 GMT
PETERBOROUGH Speedway can regrettably confirm that Nicki Pedersen has left the club.
Nicki crashed out of our opening meeting against Ipswich just over a fortnight ago, and although he has subsequently returned to racing in Poland, he has taken the decision that he cannot continue in the UK.
Nicki has sent us the following message: “It was a short time with you guys at Peterborough Panthers.
“I have to pull out for now and resign, the body is just not fit enough with my injury for the technical British Speedway tracks.
“I hope you can find a replacement very quick and move on and focus on the main thing, winning the British league.
“It was a pleasure to meet you and I want to wish you all good luck in 2023.”
In conjunction with Nicki’s announcement, and given the speculation concerning several club issues over recent months, we would like to fully and transparently clarify matters for supporters.
It is a great shame that Nicki has had to leave. We understand and respect his reasons and wish him well for the remainder of the season.
Nicki was very much the marquee signing we wanted to help Peterborough enjoy a great season, and we are now madly scouring the speedway world as we look to bring in a signing to replace him.
We have already spoken to half a dozen very high-profile riders, who at this moment have all turned down the opportunity due to commitments in the Grand Prix or elsewhere in meetings abroad. Several of those riders have indicated that the situation may change later in the year.
We will continue with this process as we look for the best replacement for Nicki that we can possibly bring in.
There has been much speculation about the future of the Panthers, and it is important to state from the outset that we are 100 per cent committed to the 2023 season. We have been granted a facility for Nicki, and after the last two years booking guests is not something new to us!
Over the winter there was an on/off scenario whereby the club may have changed hands. However, given the uncertainty over the longevity of Peterborough Speedway, it was understandable that a sale did not take place.
That said, everybody involved in that process is still involved with the club and wants to take it forward in the best way possible. Keith Chapman remains as the owner of the club.
In terms of the future, as things stand at present, very sadly this will be our last year. We have a contract with the Showground until the end of October, and at this stage it is highly unlikely that this will be renewed.
We have spoken to several people regarding the potential for a new site, but the club would need significant help with that as it would essentially involve building a new stadium.
Our intention is to carry on fighting for as long as possible to keep Peterborough Speedway in Peterborough, but as it stands now, the speedway will cease in October.
We can fully understand the fans’ disappointment both with this news and the Nicki scenario, but we can only stress that the club needs you more than ever at this moment. We are not giving up, so please do not give up on us. As a management team, we feel it is best to be completely open and honest with everyone and explain the situation, however difficult things are, and we will continue to do this over the coming weeks.
We do realise the winter was quiet in terms of news, but there has been an enormous amount of work going on behind the scenes, and sometimes you cannot jeopardise that work by ‘saying nothing’ just for the sake of it.
We will continue working hard to secure a replacement for Nicki and fighting for the continuation of speedway in Peterborough, but this is the truth of how things stand today.
We remain committed to having the best season we can, and if it is to be our last season we want everyone to have fun, make memories and enjoy the racing at one of the best tracks and finest venues in the sport.
We had a fabulous crowd on opening night, for which we are very grateful, and we will update everyone as soon as there are any more developments.
Finally, a big thank you to our main sponsors Crendon Timber, City Auction Group and PurpleRock for their backing, which is hugely valued and vital to the continued operation of the club.
We look forward to seeing everyone at the Showground on Monday when we host Belle Vue.
Wednesday April 12, 2023
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Post by admin on Apr 12, 2023 20:59:00 GMT
Glad at last the truth is out, a sad sad day. All the pre season hype exposed as no more than kidology. Hope something sorted for rest of season sad to end in the same dire straits that we finished last season on. We don't do good PR and we certainly don't do good timing. Honest it may be but it's a shocker. A season ending statement after one meeting which is only missing one line for some reason (possibly because of the TV contract) which says: "Peterborough Speedway is closing with immediate effect"
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Post by rodders on Apr 12, 2023 21:30:49 GMT
Suggestions elsewhere re track between Northampton and Coventry would I imagine relate to Braefield Speedway
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Post by rodders on Apr 16, 2023 16:58:25 GMT
Successive management have treated the paying public with no more than Churchillian gestures whilst digging the hole deeper and deeper.
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Post by chrise on Apr 26, 2023 15:59:49 GMT
Just seen the teams for the next two fixtures. Buster and the so called management are really taking the piss. Must be being paid to just fulfil the the fixture programme so the television contract remains intact. What a sad demise for a wonderful club and venue. Hope Rob Lyons tells them where to stick it.
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Post by arthursleep on Apr 26, 2023 19:10:06 GMT
Just seen the teams for the next two fixtures. Buster and the so called management are really taking the piss. Must be being paid to just fulfil the the fixture programme so the television contract remains intact. What a sad demise for a wonderful club and venue. Hope Rob Lyons tells them where to stick it. im keeping my money to myself ain’t have my hard earned.Would rather give my money to charity eg the bookmakers
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Post by Hodgy on Apr 26, 2023 20:05:04 GMT
Just seen the teams for the next two fixtures. Buster and the so called management are really taking the piss. Must be being paid to just fulfil the the fixture programme so the television contract remains intact. What a sad demise for a wonderful club and venue. Hope Rob Lyons tells them where to stick it. It certainly looks like the club are on their last legs and totally given up. Such a shame after reading so much optimism from MT.
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Post by Hodgy on Apr 26, 2023 20:17:19 GMT
Just seen the teams for the next two fixtures. Buster and the so called management are really taking the piss. Must be being paid to just fulfil the the fixture programme so the television contract remains intact. What a sad demise for a wonderful club and venue. Hope Rob Lyons tells them where to stick it. im keeping my money to myself ain’t have my hard earned.Would rather give my money to charity eg the bookmakers Understand you want to keep your money but then to consider bookmakers as a charity is ridiculous.
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Post by admin on Apr 26, 2023 20:49:48 GMT
Just seen the teams for the next two fixtures. Buster and the so called management are really taking the piss. Must be being paid to just fulfil the the fixture programme so the television contract remains intact. What a sad demise for a wonderful club and venue. Hope Rob Lyons tells them where to stick it. It certainly looks like the club are on their last legs and totally given up. Such a shame after reading so much optimism from MT. I still think that Chapman has done a deal that got us a full season with the proviso that we didn't make a fuss and went away quietly in August or September. He doesn't need to sell, doesn't want to spend much on the season and is just happy, as always, to make up the numbers? Or maybe it's just my suspicious mind?
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Post by admin on Apr 26, 2023 20:57:26 GMT
Just seen the teams for the next two fixtures. Buster and the so called management are really taking the piss. Must be being paid to just fulfil the the fixture programme so the television contract remains intact. What a sad demise for a wonderful club and venue. Hope Rob Lyons tells them where to stick it. im keeping my money to myself ain’t have my hard earned. Would rather give my money to charity eg the bookmakers Wish I'd have done that. First season ticket for 15 years because until Chapman put his foot down (in it) we seemed to have a decent team for potentially our last EoES season. I could have found a much better place (ie my Boylesports account) for that £200+
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Post by arthursleep on Apr 27, 2023 2:58:22 GMT
im keeping my money to myself ain’t have my hard earned.Would rather give my money to charity eg the bookmakers Understand you want to keep your money but then to consider bookmakers as a charity is ridiculous. it was a joke I’ve had people say to me you’d be better off giving your money to charity than gamble .my reply to them has always been bookmakers don’t ring u up and ask for more and you u do get some back from the bookies now and again. So it better than giving all to charity
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Post by rodders on Jun 8, 2023 13:18:15 GMT
As usual wall of silence and mushroom management, are the orders of the day. If this is to be our last season why bother to improve team with the costs involved?
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Post by Hodgy on Jun 8, 2023 20:29:38 GMT
As usual wall of silence and mushroom management, are the orders of the day. If this is to be our last season why bother to improve team with the costs involved? I’ve been supporting The Panthers since my parents taking me as a very young boy. I loved it from those days of running up and down with my race bib on. My brother and I continued long after my parents gave it up. We never won anything other than the fours at home. We did win most home meetings with our track advantage. Clark, Greer, Carter, Gooderham, Hume, Buck, Barney, Pepper, Hines, Flatman to name just a few. We have been on and off virtually every season (but had many amazing seasons in between). It really does look like it’s now going, to which I’ve now accepted. If this season is the end, it will be an awful way to go out. Would have been better to finish as Dads Army Champs.
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Post by rodders on Jun 9, 2023 14:57:12 GMT
Not sure the signing of the little known Polish chap and moving Iversen to no 1 , improves the team greatly
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Post by chrise on Jun 9, 2023 20:42:04 GMT
Not sure the signing of the little known Polish chap and moving Iversen to no 1 , improves the team greatly Agree. Iversen is well past his best. Just another decision on the cheap from Buster.
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Post by Bigcatdiary on Jun 10, 2023 7:41:41 GMT
Not sure the signing of the little known Polish chap and moving Iversen to no 1 , improves the team greatly In reality it probably won’t but if they add Tungate it should. Tarasenko scores well in the Extraleague, is an acknowledged trapper and is the nephew of Artem Laguta. It might take him a few matches to get up to speed but he should be ok after that.
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Post by rodders on Jun 13, 2023 21:49:57 GMT
Not sure the signing of the little known Polish chap and moving Iversen to no 1 , improves the team greatly In reality it probably won’t but if they add Tungate it should. Tarasenko scores well in the Extraleague, is an acknowledged trapper and is the nephew of Artem Laguta. It might take him a few matches to get up to speed but he should be ok after that. All the above now seem like minor issues, Busters empire about to implode, possibly taking the whole of British Speedway as we know it into oblivion
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bratters
Championship poster.
Posts: 116
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Post by bratters on Jun 22, 2023 21:48:38 GMT
There has been some major surgery carried out by some big plant machinery at the track today. I’m not surprised after seeing some of the pictures on social media taken at the recent Plantworks event at the Showground.
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Post by admin on Jun 23, 2023 9:39:39 GMT
There has been some major surgery carried out by some big plant machinery at the track today. I’m not surprised after seeing some of the pictures on social media taken at the recent Plantworks event at the Showground. Who had to put the damage right and fund it? Peterborough Speedway or those that wrecked the place?
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bratters
Championship poster.
Posts: 116
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Post by bratters on Jun 25, 2023 15:34:21 GMT
There has been some major surgery carried out by some big plant machinery at the track today. I’m not surprised after seeing some of the pictures on social media taken at the recent Plantworks event at the Showground. Who had to put the damage right and fund it? Peterborough Speedway or those that wrecked the place? No idea but my money would be on it not being the moron currently running the Showground.
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Post by admin on Jun 25, 2023 16:13:24 GMT
Who had to put the damage right and fund it? Peterborough Speedway or those that wrecked the place? No idea but my money would be on it not being the moron currently running the Showground. Didn't realise that we were on the box. That explains the urgency. Wouldn't have been surprised otherwise to unfixable damage to the pit gate causing a call off
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Post by arthursleep on Jul 7, 2023 15:26:58 GMT
Shock resignation at Peterborough Panthers as co-promoter bemoans a 'lack of support and enthusiasm'Peterborough Panthers have been plunged into total turmoil after Carl Johnson quit as the club’s promoter.It leaves the Panthers not only rooted to the bottom of the Premiership after only one win all season, but now apparently rudderless following Johnson’s departure. (it's rarely had a rudder under Chapman and yo yo Johnson has never been the answer)Johnson had become increasingly frustrated over the club’s inability to replace three-times world champion Nicki Pedersen after the Danish superstar crashed out on the second bend at the opening meeting of the season at the East of England Arena and then turned his back on the club despite being under a season-long contract. Pedersen, who had spent most of last season recovering from serious injuries, admitted that his body wouldn’t be able to cope with the demands of racing in the UK as well as Poland and Denmark. (he also spent the close season recovering and was clearly untried and fragile when signed)In his emotional resignation statement Johnson, who has been a mainstay of the club since taking over as team manager nine years ago and, in 2019, becoming co-promoter with the late Colin Pratt, spoke of ‘a lack of support and enthusiasm draining away his love of speedway.’ Johnson, a life-long fan who rode for the club’s junior team in the nineties, said: “It is with deep regret that I tendered my notice as promoter of Peterborough speedway after the successful Ulrich Ostergaard ‘Farewell’ meeting on Sunday. “I feel I cannot continue my role within the club and feel deeply saddened that more hasn’t been done to support our fantastic club. (can't disagree with that!)“We, as fans, deserve more and the lack of enthusiasm shown has taken its toll on myself over the season. I feel the love for the sport I’ve had for over 40 years has been drained from me. “The love for my club will never change and I wish everyone at the club all the best for the rest of the season. “I’ve personally thanked the people I need to, that have been by my side and have been there for the club.” Panthers have been given notice to quit the East of England Showground to make way for a major housing development on the site and expect this will be their final season at what has been their home since 1970. And Johnson has vowed to do everything he can to try and secure a future for the club elsewhere in the city. He added: “I will, however, be pushing forward with plans for the future with two potential sites for relocation.” The news of Johnson’s departure – leaving the Panthers, which is owned by Keith Chapman, without a licensed promoter – came as a bombshell just hours after they went down to their heaviest defeat of a dreadful season in which they have lost 12 of their 13 matches so far, at Leicester on Thursday night. Having finished at the bottom of the Premiership table last year, the team is heading for back-to-back wooden spoons with 11 matches left. Johnson, who had no control over the rider budget, spoke exclusively of his frustrations in an interview with the Peterborough Telegraph last month when he claimed: It’s been a very testing time. I’ve always had someone else holding the purse strings, someone in control. “We have tried everything. It’s been hard work and we just wish we’d had 100% backing from elsewhere. We have had to go down different routes to find things out but that’s life we will keep going and keep pushing. “We don’t want the club to disappear without a fight and we don’t want to lose too many matches this season. “I understand the fans getting riled, I totally understand. We get a lot of grief on social media, but there’s not a lot I can do personally. “I want the best for Peterborough speedway so I understand the fans getting upset when things are not happening, but I can’t control that, I want it as much as they do. There’s nobody who wants it more than I do, but you can’t have everything on a shoestring.” In the same interview, he revealed that latest pin-up Vadim Tarasenko had agreed to join the club and that he was also 85-90% confident that Australian star Rohan Tungate, who lives in Poland where he races regularly, would be joining him in a double signing to strengthen the line-up. But two weeks later, while not actually naming the club involved, Tungate revealed: “I was talking to a club. I pretty much had a deal in place, and this was recently. I organised the bikes and we planned to pick them up and get them ready. We went to the speedway shop and got everything. We built the bikes up, but then I didn’t hear anything. It was a little bit strange. I even got sent the club’s suit by email. “Now I have some bikes ready to go in Britain and I am just waiting. I don’t really know the full story. It’s a little bit messy. “There were meant to be two changes for that team, and I had pretty much done a deal. They just needed to put it on paper, and I would have signed it. But that deal didn’t come back to me. “I won’t go into the full details, but it wasn’t good. It’s just so messy and I don’t really understand it. It’s a bit disappointing, to be honest.” peterboroughtoday 7/7/23 - another depressing white flag read from Johnson - strange timing as well! So now we do not have a promoter can we continue? Interesting and typical that no mention on official site. First heard rumour on Monday but no official confirmation. so he slagged the fans off for moaning about the team , then has done a runner himself . who’s gonna clean 5h1t houses now ,after reading the guff from him and sidekick they shouldn’t be no where near a speedway club
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Post by rodders on Jul 7, 2023 16:25:50 GMT
Scandalous and typical that despite the cataclysmic news, no commend from club
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Post by chrise on Jul 7, 2023 18:28:01 GMT
Scandalous and typical that despite the cataclysmic new , no commend from club Statement now on club website. Looks like Busters world is imploding ! What a mess. Looks like the whole Premiership is in grave danger of complete collapse. The chickens have finally come home to roost. At least the mafia will be no more.
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Post by admin on Jul 7, 2023 20:51:14 GMT
Scandalous and typical that despite the cataclysmic new , no commend from club Statement now on club website. Looks like Busters world is imploding ! What a mess. Looks like the whole Premiership is in grave danger of complete collapse. The chickens have finally come home to roost. At least the mafia will be no more. PETERBOROUGH Speedway can confirm Carl Johnson has tendered his resignation as a promoter of the club.This matter is now subject to acceptance by British Speedway Promoters’ Ltd, and the club will make no further comment on his departure. Peterborough are now exploring all options for the remainder of the 2023 season. Next Monday’s (July 10) away match at King’s Lynn has been postponed due to the current issues at the Adrian Flux Arena, and has been re-arranged for Thursday July 27. The club will provide further updates when available, but it is our intention that next Thursday’s (July 13) home match against Sheffield in the Sports Insure Premiership goes ahead as scheduled.
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