Hamish McRaker

Is there anything in the rules, purely theoretically of course (and all in the best possible taste), to prevent R.Lambert from deciding to join the EDR pool at this stage and for KL to select him to replace Kerr?

Its looking more and more like the "draft" aspect of the process is the assembly of a pool of riders who meet eligibility criteria. After that, it becomes more a game of sophisticated musical chairs with some amount of side-deals going on, within a rough but quite flexible framework of "rules". However, as may have already become apparent and may be about to become even more so, the eligibility criteria for membership of the pool looks to be quite flexible also.!

Maybe Mr Blackbird was never going to come out of retiirement, and this whole business had been set up a long while ago, same goes for KL's replacement for Kerr.

And Auty to Kings Lynn?

Got the feeling this is a big juicy red herring. But....if there's any truth in it.....the rider must be very good indeed to merit change of race night and the possible loss of another rider. East as in Kings Lynn? East as in Emil Sayfutdinov? .....Chapman talked about an exciting team or something like that when the Lambert re-signing was announced.

Another cunning plan works out for Ford

I wonder how long,from after the AGM ends, clubs are allowed to go before they have to pay up the money? If a club drags its heels in making the payment, there is presumably a deadline after which the league place is forfeited if the payment hasn't been forthcoming. Or is the AGM itself the absolute deadline?

Is there a MINIMUM team total points requirement?

Appreciate the explanation and acknowledge you're not completely sure of the full rules. But if what you say is roughly right, it would mean that if a team withdraws from the league during the winter, and is up to date with rider payments, their bond would remain intact and even refundable if it were a permanent withdrawal from the league by that team/promotion?

What does this bond cover? Is it surety to cover just any monies owed at the time a team withdraws from the league, or does it also include an element of indemnity for the other clubs in the league to cover costs/loss of income associated with cancellation of home match fixtures? Does it also include such as cover for possible third-party liabilities?

Unless, of course, the limit is about to be reduced by 2 points

Wouldn't be surprised if Sky has been alive to such a possibility for a while now. Not sure if the 8 teams "requirement" is contractually set in stone or not. But if there is also a concern for the quality of the product, then a reduction to 7 teams in 2016 could be of benefit. Sweden went down to 7 teams this year from 8 the previous one.And how many times did Sky cover Leicester matches in the two years? Two "obligatory" home matches and that was all. As Flagrag has previously pointed out onhere,deficiencies in the track lighting prevent matches from being covered outside the full daylight period.And deficiencies in the team have prevented away matches being featured. So would Sky really be all that concerned??

And I did say BOTH of them!!

It would not surprise me if the other Elite League promoters have been well aware of such a scenario happening for some time, and have made contingency plans to implement a 7 team league.Would there still be enough riders available, if another promoter took over and ran a Premier League side?

Maybe he's just a more understated kind of guy?

The word "bet" gives a clue.

A sneaky feeling the promoters have a Plan B scenario ready to adopt. This is a league of 7 teams. There could even be a PREFERENCE for it,and it is only a matter of time before it is put into action as it becomes clear that one of the current 8 teams cannot put together a team. I found it most curiuos that Lakeside named two riders at reserve, who are both retired from speedway. I will not be putting bet on them actually being in the team when the season begins.

I think young Mr Hemsley's best chance is to do a rapid u-turn back to the PL while theres still half a chance.

Nor does the majority of riders......which means if a rider learns it well enough, he can acquire one big home advantage. Just needs some persistence and the right attitude.

make engines illegal

Prevents a rider from getting too burned-out. Provides a way for a rider to keep involved in the UK league rather than disappearing (and once gone - chances of returning less likely). Possible replacement (ahead of schedule) in the event of injury. Will have to wait for 2017 until that happens. In the meantime...do it on an unofficial rota basis

But not impossible, providing of course that both riders (on similar averages)are agreeable to the plan. Better if this was all officially set up before start of season, which it possibly will be from 2017 after the 2016 AGM approves it. Until then it has to be fudged.

Would it work if Lynn signed Doyle to begin the season at no.1, and Iversen doesn't ride in the UK. Then after a couple of months the team is re-declared with Iversen coming in to replace Doyle. Then after a couple more months its re-declared again with Doyle returning.

Swaying like a drunk on Sauchie Hall street on a Friday night. Just before he falls over into the gutter

Comedy gold. Zagar just loves being at Beaumont Park on a Saturday!!!