Mr Snackette

Please see my reply above. I think my memory on this episode is fine.

Again another case in point. Ipswich wanted far more than what was actually paid. Nicholls had, quite rightly, threatened legal action if his move to Coventry wasn't sanctioned. As a result the BSPA knocked a few heads together in order that legal action was avoided. For reasons that have been mentioned earlier the BSPA had no wish for this to be dragged through the courts as it would have brought down the whole dodgy edifice!!!! So as I indicated an accommodation was reached, court case avoided, and the asset illusion is perpetuated!!!

Clearly you have no been following the debate on other threads. To help you I append some apposite comments. You are absolutely right in so much as Morris and his advisers are free to find employment with what ever UK promotion they consider appropriate. Assuming that he hasn't signed a contract with another UK promoter for 2012 he is a free agent, and legally that is where the matter ends. Glasgow can huff and puff all they like, but legally they are entitled to ZILCH!!!!! If they tried to prevent Morris from riding for what ever UK promotion HE wanted to, they would face a class injunction which they would lose. Mind you it would never get that far. The Jolly Boys Club (the BSPA) would have a word with both promotions involved, and they will be instructed to reach an accommodation so as not to "rock the boat". A classic example is, as I have previously mentioned, was when Swiderski signed for Ipswich a few years back, which illustrates this point perfectly. At the end of the day who are you going to use as your point of reference? Tsunami, someone who on occasions has failed to grasp basic English, or Phil Rising, Managing Editor and Proprietor of the Speedway Star. The choice is yours, but I know who I would choose!!!!!!

It's a fact....but you are entitled to your scepticism!!!!

Whilst Aljack is more than entitled to his opinion, sadly he doesn't always let the facts get in the way of his argument / agenda!!!!! The facts are that more people came through the Foxhall turnstiles than for any of the past three NsEL seasons. With the lower running costs associated with the PL, the decision to move to the PL has undoubtably been a financial success. With a team that the fans could actually relate to, achieving a decent league position, and picking up some silverware, smiles were back on the Foxhall faithful for the first time in a long while. I agree that there were some relatively disappointing attendances at some meetings, but nothing as bad as some of those in the moribund NsEL of previous years.

Thank you for you critique of my earlier piece, although the absence of any comment to substantiate your remarks is a little disappointing.. However coming from someone who at the start of the season struggled to understand the meaning of the word reactionary, should anyone really be surprised?????!!!!!!!!!!

Whilst he may be on the Glasgow Retained List, as I assume that Morris hasn't signed a 2012 Contract he is a free agent and can sign for whichever promotion he chooses. I'm afraid Glasgow are entitled to zilch, but as members of the club, I'm sure that an accommodation will be reached, so as "not to rock the boat". However I have to say that it is a massive assumption that Morris wil ride at Foxhall next season, and with a 2011 CMA of 7.19, it's not necessarily the bargain essential signing that others might think. This is particularly true, if the boy, as has been reported, plans to ride regularly in Polska. With the number of weekend fixtures in the PL, I think it's a difficult proposition for a rider to double up in the Poliski and Premeir Leagues.

If Morris wants to sign for Ipswich, and I don't know one way or the other whether he does or not, there is little than Glasgow can do about it. I dont believe he has signed a contract for the 2012 season, and consequently as a free agent he can sign for whichever promotion he chooses.

Agree with that 100%, as very few meetings are won on paper. Indeed that is the danger of, albeit playful, speculation. Some people will take it as read, and then be disappointed with the actual team is announced. Without knowing what the outcome of the AGM is likely to be, and the basis upon which a team is to be constructed, makes any speculation pretty meaningless, although good fun!! One area that I will disagree with you on is last season. There were a number of people who thought that the Witches would walk the PL, but most of these were non Ipswich folk. I think you will find that the more seasoned local spectators were less bullish, and considered a top three finish would represent an excellent first season. However I do concede that the bar has been raised, and after years of being cast adrift in the cesspit that is the NsEL, people's expectations have increased.

Agreed100%. As I understand it the plan is to use 2011 GSAs for team building purposes, with RAs being used during the 2012 season. However I feel that each promoter will rock up at the AGM with their own agenda, and no doubt that there will be some "full and frank exchange of views", before the format is agreed. I have based my calculations on 2011 GSAs, but as Dave mentioned, who know whether this will change or not.

I believe it's planned for the 17th to 20th November. Then once everyone has had the opportunity to huff and puff, threaten legal action, go off and sulk, we should know the outcome sometime mid 2012!!!

Not quite as according to my figures it would leave 6.92 to sign a number three, which would of course rule out Masters. So in the words of Michael Winner: "Calm down dear!!!!"

I think we perhaps need to calm down a little. The above is based on the current GSA not the end of season figures. I would remind all contributors of Rule 17.4.1: "At the end of each Season the BSPA will produce a Listing of all Riders who have competed in British Speedway during that season and following approval and/or amendment at the BSPA AGM’s these CMA’s (i.e. excluding Bonus Points but including other allowances) will be the Riders CMA for the start of the following Season." Whilst under the current rules and regulations Heeps and Tungate would come in 3.00 and 5.00 respectively, and there is nothing to suggest that this position will change at the AGM, but it COULD. In addition I think that young Morris' end of season CMA is 7.17. So perhaps take a deep breath until such time as the AGM is over.

On a personal level, I much prefer a team, rather than an individual meeting. However to suggest that the sport is first and foremost a team sport is an over simplification. I would suggest that if you asked the average speedway fan who were the first three speedway world champions, there would be a good number who could rattle off the names of Lionel Van Praag, Jack Milne, and Bluey Wilkinson. Ask the same fans who won the League in 1936, 1937, 1938....and I would suggest that there would be very few who could come up with the answer (well I certainly couldn't!!!). In fact I could tell you who won the league in 1975, 1976, 1984, and 1998......Dag Lovaas (RR) won it in 1977....and Smederna won the Swedish League in 1973. Apart from that I would be struggling, and without looking it up, I couldn't tell you. Yet for the same years I could name you the individual world champions without any difficulty, and I would suggest there would be many who could also do the same. So clearly the Individual World Champion has far greater prestige than any league title winner. However it could also be fair to say that for the average speedway rider, the World Championships are for show, league speedway is for dough!!! So it may be that it is the financial model that needs to change more than anything else. The financial rewards for competing in the world championships should be such that no rider could afford to give it a miss.

How can any signings be confirmed before the AGM. Given the events of last year, I would suggest anything might be possible. A ban on Australians......Czech riders with short surnames only accepted on a 12 point CMA.......English riders can only ride for an English promotion.....Anyone called Mike Bowden can't sign anyone!!!!

Or better still lock both threads until after the AGM.

It appears that nostalgia ain't what it used to be!!!!!

So Göteborg is a non speedway city? I appreciate that Kaparna haven't run since 2008, but does this really make it a non speedway city? I would certainly argue that it is far more stepped in speedway tradition than Auckland, Terenzano, or indeed Cardiff Apart from the one off world finals that have been held in the city, league speedway operated in the city for over 50 years. I can't remember too many league teams operating out of Cardiff!! So a rather strange post.......but it is a Muppet post......so no change there then!!!!!

As long as Doolan is the top rider in the averages, and providing that there are no changes to Rule 18.1a, I'm afraid the position is de rigueur.

Normally.I would advise go to the meeting and stay somewhere else, as the town is ordinary to say the least. For June 2012 be very, very careful indeed if going to Gorzow, as you would be going bang in the middle of Euro Finals. Gorzow is home to the infamous Stilon Fighters, one of the most notorious hooligan gangs in Poland. The football authorities know that the Stilon Fighters along with other Polish gangs have targeted English, Dutch and German fans as their main priority. Unfortunately these gangs are none too bright, and I would be concerned at their ability to differentiate between football or speedway fans. My good friend James Easter has just returned from a highly successful tour based in Berlin. That would be my choice, stay in Berlin, travel to Gorzow on the day of the meeting, spend as little time there as possible and return immediately afterwards. Sorry if I sound a little alarmist, but I do feel that there will be a hooligan problem whilst the football is on, and it may be worth giving the whole place a wide berth until the competition is over.

So by my calculations that's 04:00 hours BST. Interestingly (well I think so!!!) if the meeting was run a week earlier it would have been a 03:00 GMT, and a week later a 05:00 BST start. As usual this exciting news is treated by those with a typical Little Englander mentality as a major problem rather than a major opportunity. When will those realise that the moribund NsEL is nothing more than a small irritation rather than a key player on the international scene.

And if you read my post more carefully you would see that I quite deliberately used the word NOW. Please do try and keep up!!!!

May I respectfully suggest that if you mean football leagues in this country then you say so. It's probably the reason why some of your rambling posts have been misinterpreted in the past. It is always easy to make disparaging remarks towards sport in the USA, where of course if you knew anything about MLS, the Tie (or draw) is now quite acceptable. No doubt using your reasoned cognitive analysis, Australian sport is also unworthy of any serious consideration, as after all they all descended from convicts!!!! "everyone walk the dinosaur"!!!!!

Oh dear we really do make some rather silly statements, don't we!! Off the top of my head I can name two leagues the MLS and the A-League which both use a play off system to decide their league champions. No doubt those with a better knowledge of the round ball game than I, could come up with many others. Looks like dinosaurs do need to do a little research before they start to join in a serious debate!!!!!

Outdated thinking.......yes definitely!!! Big crowds for the semis, and I would suggest big crowds for the finals......can speedway really afford to give up these pay days?...... Of course not. Rugby Union, Rugby League, ice Hockey, Basketball, are just some of the sports in the UK that have recognised the financial benefits of deciding their champions via a play-off system. Of course, the FA Premiership doesn't. Although the Football League does run a play off system to decide promotion. When speedway attracts gates of 30,000 for derby matches, then the sport can afford to be magnanimous and scrap the play-offs. Until then the income generated is vital.. Cue Was Not Was........Everybody walk the dinosaur!!!!!!