Glasgow
2006-Promotion Update
Posted 26/11/05
Alan Dick represented the promotion at the
successful STARs quiz night at Ashfield last night and gave an update
on the situation regarding Glasgow and Premier League speedway for
2006.
The following is merely our recollection of the points Alan
made and the questions answered in a session that saw Alan come across
as distinctly more upbeat than previously whilst still adding a word
of caution. Obviously the outcome of the Conference was high on the
agenda as well as Glasgow's own post ion. Points made are listed below:-
Glasgow Issues.
- The issues with Glasgow City Council are still to be resolved
but they are 'well down the road'. The Promotion are 95% certain
of running at Ashfield next season
- The current issues have prevented Kenny McKinna's training
schools from running and they are keen to get the outstanding issues
resolved to allow Kenny to run again before the winter really sets
in
- The Planning department of Glasgow Council have given
an assurance that the noise in their opinion does not breach the
terms of the lease. There are however a few environmental issues
to be resolved but Glasgow have been told their licence to run should
be granted for next season
- With Glasgow having a free week thanks to being seeded
into the second round of the Knock Out Cup, it is hoped to hold
a big 60th anniversary meeting around the time of the first round
to celebrate Glasgow's 60 years in the sport.
- Alan made clear that survival of Glasgow Speedway was
the only thing that currently mattered to the Promotion and that
they will not jeopardise the club by paying out money they cannot
afford. The team will be as competitive as the promotion can possibly
make it within their means but it may well mean that they are unable
to bring in big names/a star rider. He appealed to fans to remember
that this was to ensure the security of the club and what the alternative
was.
- It is still imperative that we increase crowds next season
- When asked whether the Promotion would prefer fans to
buy Season Tickets or pay weekly, Alan advised without a doubt Season
Tickets. The forms for these should be going out within the next
seven days to existing season ticket holders. (Anyone wishing to
take out a ticket for the first time can contact the promotion through
the official site).
- Admission will be slightly up on last season with entrance
£12 for adults, £8 for concessions, both up 50p. Kids
remain at £4
- Dust netting will be going up behind the third and fourth
bends for next season
- Alan commented that if we had floodlights at Ashfield
we would not be racing on a Sunday afternoon but the costs of installation
and running would be prohibitive
- Although the alternative venue is not an option for next
season, the promotion have not given up hope that the owner could
possibly come round over the next 12 months. He felt at the moment
however that speedway was not compatible with his current tenants
- As yet no major sponsor has been sought for next season
Conference Issues
- There were 5 clubs prior to the Conference that had indicated
they needed change to be able to run in 2006. The clubs mentioned
were Glasgow, Newport, Isle of Wight, Berwick and Edinburgh
- A strict pay policy has been introduced to the Premier
League. Obviously there are still ways round this with sponsors
but clubs have to stick to the agreed pay scales
- It was confirmed that there is a 33 point limit for riders
1-5
- The 2 reserves must be British, this being brought in
as they appreciated the need to encourage UK riders - last season
63 out of the 120 Premier League riders were foreigners.
- The riders at reserve will be graded according to ability
and experience, the highest being Grade A, lowest Grade C. They
are also subject to a strict pay scale that the clubs cannot breach
- The BSPA and Peter Oakes are deciding on the riders for
these grades although Alan did have a list which gave an indication
of what riders would be graded where. The full list is expected
to be published in the Speedway Star
- It is expected that a list of 65 riders in the reserve
grades based on ability will be circulated to clubs
- Alan advised James Cockle and Adam Roynon have both been
graded as B. A team can have two grade B riders at reserve or a
Grade A and Grade C. They can't have a Grade A and Grade B. It is
presumed the combined reserve average balances out around 7 points
- A few examples were given of riders expected to be in
each of the grades next season. The examples given were:-
Grade A: - Jon Armstrong, Aiden Collins, Jamie Birkinshaw,
David McAllan
Grade B; - James Cockle, Adam Roynon, Barry Evans, Ben Barker,
Darren Mallet
Grade C; - Andrew Tully, Steven Lambert, Charles Wright,
Luke Priest, John Branney
- If reserves are injured during the season they have to
be replaced by a reserve of the same grade or lower
- There is no promotion to or relegation from the main team
- reserves remain in the reserve berth for the entire season.
- There is nothing to stop a club using one of the riders
in the reserve lists in the main body of the team but they would
remain there all season and could not subsequently drop to reserve.
- Taking into account the change to calculate teams on a
riders average minus bonus points plus the grading of reserves,
the equivalent average on last seasons basis is around the 43.75
points mark and therefore the product is not 'significantly' diluted
although marginally weaker. However it will hopefully now encourage
British riders
- There was the possibility of restricting the number of
riders over 8 points a team could have to 1 but this is felt not
to be needed with the new system. Only Glasgow and Sheffield finished
the season with two riders over 8
- Although Mildenhall are the only other club so far confirmed
as riding in next seasons Premier League, the door is not yet closed
to other clubs and it is indeed expected that Birmingham (racing
Wednesday) and Redcar (racing Thursday and the 'new' name for Middlesborough)
will also come to tapes in the PL in March making it a 15 team league
- As a result of giving Birmingham and Redcar sufficient
time to get everything in place, league fixtures will not be compiled
till after 15th January and are likely to be published later next
year, presumably towards the end of February. Alan acknowledged
this caused problems for those wanting to arrange time off for southern
trips but confirmed that Newport have already agreed that they would
host Glasgow the night before the British Grand Prix again. Glasgow
also hope to race either Redcar or Sheffield on the Thursday.
- The northern section of the Premier Trophy will be made
up of 8 teams with Stoke switching to the southern section which
will have seven teams
- The play offs feature the top 8 clubs and are basically
the Young Shield under another name.They will run the same way with
the club finishing top of the league table getting first choice
of opponent from clubs finishing 5th-8th. The main difference is
that the two leg final, which will be run on Monday nights in October,
will be shown live on Sky TV
- Premier League clubs will still only receive £3000
each from the Sky money but in addition the two clubs in the play
off final will receive an extra £5000
- Glasgow were asked to host the PL Pairs again. No date
is available as yet as it depends on the FIM calendar but it is
expected to be June. Although it is still impossible to say they
are 100% sure of running speedway at Ashfield next season, the signs
are good and the promotion would not have agreed to take the Pairs
if they thought they would be unable to stage them.
Rule Changes
The rules remain more or less the same although there are
two slight changes
- The tactical substitute rides return to the knock out
cup and therefore it will run in exactly the same way as other competitions
next season
- Next season you MUST beat an opponent to get double points
and therefore coming in third ahead of your team mate will only
result in a 5-1 instead of a 5-2
- The 8 day rule does not apply to a home team no 1
Once again apologies for the length of this piece, I have
merely tried to list everything that can be remembered from last nights
discussions for those not present.
There will be an opportunity to quiz the promotion further
on these issues next week when the Glasgow Tigers Speedway Supporters
Club hold a Question and Answer session with the promotion at Ashfield
next Friday evening at 7.30 pm
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