Pauls
U-Turn
Posted 27/04/05
Glasgow fans have been left scratching their
heads after it was announced that Paul Bentley had changed his mind
over Sunday's original decision to take a break from the sport.
The u-turn leaves the promotion with
a bit of a headache as they have already been speaking with a potential
replacement. However as Paul is now no longer withholding his services,
the only options open to Glasgow for this weekend are
- include Paul in the team as
previously
- replace Paul with a conference
league guest
- redeclare the team today with
a new rider
The third option seems unlikely and due to the three
day rule today is the latest any redeclaration can be submitted to
the BSPA if it is to take effect in time for Sunday.
To replace Paul with a conference league guest would
weaken the team further and does not look a realistic option. Therefore,
it looks as if Glasgow will line up with Paul back in the team this
weekend.
The further disadvantage to this is that the new
averages will kick in after Monday's return leg at Newcastle. If the
averages were to remain as they are after the Edinburgh meeting on
Sunday, they are as follows: -
| George Stancl |
9.42 |
| Matt Wethers |
4.74 |
| Jamie Birkinshaw |
4.54 |
| Paul Bentley |
5.50 |
| Shane Parker |
10.00 |
| James Cockle* |
3.00 |
| Trent Leverington |
5.73 |
| Total |
42.93 |
* James will not have ridden 12 meetings, his current calculated
average is 4.25
If Paul were to have another re-think after 12 meetings
and take a break then, or if indeed the promotion decided to go ahead
with the change and bring in the new target they have been speaking
to, Paul would then have the benefit of a far lower average of 5.5
as opposed to his current average.
This would undoubtedly make it easier for Paul to
find another club if that was necessary but would mean from Glasgow's
point of view that with a straight 'one for one' swap, the promotion
would have the lower figure of 7.57 to work with.
