Following months of uncertainty, Tigers supporters are celebrating after hearing the news the club is under new ownership and already planning for a bright new era .
At a packed supporters forum in the city-centre Marriot hotel earlier this evening, the culmination of a week of healthy promotion, the announcement everyone was desperate to hear was delivered .
The Tigers’ immediate future has been secured and the club will – once details of the lease at Ashfield are clarified and with expected BSPA approval of the change of ownership — line up in the 2013 Premier League.
Several interested parties had been speculated upon, and the basis of the new deal was only confirmed tonight.
Supporters were introduced to new owner Alun Biggart and several of his management team who will run the club. Former promoter and Tigers’ existing shareholder Gordon Pairman has retained his financial stake in the club and will partner Biggart at the helm.
Many supporters will already know, or know of, Alun Biggart from Kilmacolm who is a passionate Tigers fan despite being based in Denmark where he lives with his family, and runs a successful business interest. It was also announced that helping to run the club from top to bottom as the core management team, will be several familiar Ashfield faces in Colin Hamilton, Craig McCurdy, Derek Smith and Ian Adam.
Alun extended his thanks, and those of Gordon Pairman, to everyone in attendance, and also to Alan Dick and Stewart Dickson for their hard work and dedication to keeping the Tigers running for a lengthy period of time.
He then presented his thoughts and vision for the club, emphasising that he wanted all supporters to act as agents of Glasgow Speedway in order to help spread the word and encourage lapsed, occasional and prospective supporters to return to Ashfield in 2013 and sample a regenerated atmosphere and once again to enjoy being entertained.
Whilst no details were revealed as to the likely make up of the team for 2013, or of any decided admission structure, there was some sensational news in that the new promotion are already considering a change of Tigers’ regular race night to a Friday with permanent floodlights to be installed for the first time since Tigers moved from Shawfield stadium back in 1998. Several other changes, and improvements to stadium facilities, were referenced as ‘in plan’ for the new promotion with details to follow when appropriate.
It is clear that there is much to do, and supporters should expect to be kept updated as the close season progresses at various events and via the club’s website which will in future be used to better effect.
Speaking shortly after being warmly received and thanked by the excited Tigers faithful on Saturday, Biggart shared his thoughts and vision for the future:
“I am absolutely delighted by tonight’s event and the impressive show of support for speedway – and the Tigers – in this city”.
“Gordon and I are very appreciative of our fans displaying their passion for their club, as well as to the previous owners for keeping the club going over a period of mixed fortunes. The club has been through a difficult period these past few years but it has survived and we have some amazing and dedicated fans who love their speedway and who got behind our announcement tonight and are clearly buying into our vision to take their club forward”.
“We now have the close season to work incredibly hard to ensure that, come springtime and the new speedway season, we are ready with an entertainment product and on-track team which our fans and sponsors will stand behind — and encourage others to experience too”.
“Glasgow Tigers have entertained generations of Glaswegians since 1946 and we want that to continue for a long, long time to come”.
“There really is no better live sporting spectacle than watching, from just feet away, speedway riders racing their bikes – without brakes – and to enjoy the sound and smells associated. It’s so atmospheric, it’s exciting and it’s family suited ..we must ensure that we sell that.
“Gordon and I, and our backroom team have already worked hard to get us to this launch stage. Now the real hard work will begin. It’s an exciting time for all at the club, the journey starts here and now!”
Alun Biggart is expected to take up his place representing Glasgow after being introduced to, and interviewed by, BSPA officials at the sport’s annual conference early next month as well as being introduced to the crowd attending Sunday’s Premier Challenge Trophy meeting v Redcar Bears.