Poole did not announce it, you are correct it should not even be talked about if there was a chance it would not happen. This sport just keeps on giving doesnt it!!!
I think most would accept an increase but not to those levels.
So a business decision has been reached and those that criticized Poole for contemplating entering a Premiership knock out competition can stop although they wont because we will now get criticized for not accepting.
As I said in an earlier post when it was said that riders should be unattached, I thought this would be very expensive and difficult also some had criticized them for getting Sheffield as their first k o cup meeting. As you have alluded to Poole did not say at any stage they had accepted the invitation and in my opinion the right decision reached. You could have a one off meeting between teams from different leagues but not in a cup competition.
Zaine and Declan Kennedy are poor signings, Simon Lambert had a poor season, Harrison is a good reserve but overall a poor team, can't see them making the play offs.
After last season and becoming a fans favourite I very much doubt ditching Toby would be an option, he is better than his current average now and likely to improve his average as the season progresses.
If they impress enough to get a 4 there will be teams who will want him and he could be released before his average goes up. It is however highly unlikely that there is a rider who would come in on a 2 and achieve a 4 in a couple of months apart from Cairns himself.
The reason a complete team is not announced is usually that either they are having trouble finding their preferred option or the signings that have not been released yet are poor and the fans would not like them.