STEWART DICKSON insists that Berwick need to have a new “winning mentality” for 2024.
The new FTS Bandits team boss attended his first engagement since being appointed at the presentation night at the Black and Gold club on Saturday.
Dickson was quick to admit he was blown away by the enthusiasm for the coming season.
He said: “The energy in the room was tremendous. There is a wee special feeling about the club.
“I know the Championship has got some big hitters in it with Glasgow, Poole and Oxford.
“But Redcar and Scunthorpe have managed to get themselves in the mix and competing on a regular basis. I think that’s what we need to model ourselves on at Berwick.
“They have proved that with shrewd signings and proper management structure in place that you can challenge the big three for trophies.
“I think we need to get a winning mentality. It’s all very well having a good time. It’s always a lot better if you are winning matches and you look at the league table and you’re in the top four.
“That’s what we have to do, break into that top four. Other clubs will want to do the same like Edinburgh. They were top dogs for years.
“Berwick have had two tough seasons but they need to get the belief back to go with the family feeling at the club.
“It won’t be easy. For instance if there is a BSN Series again, geographically, you know you are in with Glasgow and Edinburgh.
“That’s good for crowds but straight away you are up against it against the top team in the league in Glasgow.
“We need to get in amongst them. The 38-point limit gives us a chance to do that. The top teams will have to slash their teams and they will still look strong.”
Dickson believes the new team will be in place to be announced later this month. But there is almost certainly going to be wholesale changes.
He added: “We are looking to try and bring in someone completely new because I feel that would excite the fans.
“But it’s got to be the right fit. We need to be competitive from the off next season.
“We are well down the line with team building but we would like somebody new.”
Connor Coles was the big winner at the end of season presentation evening.
The Devonian picked up three awards to underline the progress he made in both FTS Bandits and GHT Bullets colours before his season was cut short when he suffered shoulder and arm injuries in the home defeat by Glasgow in August.
He was named as both Bullets and Bandits Rider of the Year and the Berwick Bandits’ Supporters Club Rider of the year.
Rory Schlein was voted Bandits Riders’ Rider of the Year by his team-mates with Jamie Halder picking up the same gong from the Bullets.
Berwick co-owner Jamie Courtney was clearly disappointed with the on-track results.
He said: “We certainly didn’t get what we had planned for on-track and to not even qualify for the Championship play-offs was way short of our expectations.
“Everyone worked hard to put things right, but it just didn’t happen.
“Without the sponsors and volunteers it just could not happen. A small town such as Berwick could not continue to compete against the big town clubs.
“Not to mention the supporters who kept coming even when we were getting beaten at home. By the end we were down to the hardcore – largely the people who are in the Black and Gold tonight – and it is especially for them that we are working to get it right in 2024.
“Everywhere suffered from the cost of living crisis last winter but I think that in a town such as Berwick where household incomes are already significantly lower it is especially hard.
“It made the decision to spend money on a night at the speedway that much harder and the results didn’t help, even if the racing was top quality and a string of meetings went to last-heat deciders.
“We’ll be announcing our season pass prices soon and one thing that we were criticised for was the withdrawal of concessionary admission last season. I hold my hands up and say that we have listened to the criticism that decision attracted, and it will be reinstated in 2024.”
Words by Holeshot Media.
Images by Taylor Lanning.