Double Up

I doubt 4 years loan fees would equate to what the transfer valuation would have been 4 years ago.

Always welcome at Cradley Bryn. Bit closer too!!

My mistake but you're splitting hairs ;-)

Darryl was recalled from Dudley so that he could learn to ride a big track after having had 2 years at Wolverhampton His best form in the NL is at the smaller tracks like Wolverhampton and Mildenhall. Riding at Kings Lynn in the NL will definitely help with riding at Swindon, if he gets the final team place but it will be at home where he is most likely to struggle. It can't help the lad that the decision isn't straight forward. It's almost like Roaco knows who he has to use but is desperately hoping something else crops up.

You clearly don't follow NL. 3 points in 4 seasons is nothing to write home about.

2011 starting average 3.00 at Dudley 2012 starting average 4.35 at Dudley 2013 starting average 5.84 at IOW 2014 starting average 5.94 at KL The stats would suggest that the improvement is marginal.

Maybe so but the biggest wrong is that Kurtz referred everything to the BSPA last year to ensure he didn't compromise his starting average. His father even asked if riding in Denmark would have any effect on that and was told it wouldn't. Its a wholly unique situation and probably never to be repeated. A rider currently qualified to ride as British (rightly or wrongly) starts his career here on an average higher than 3. Has that ever happened before? Incidentally, he could have ridden here in 2013 on a 5 point average but opted not to as his patriality didn't kick in until his 17th birthday in September. He's probably the last rider to come here with a patriality qualification so it's unlikely we'll see a repeat.

Yes you did!! Have I got to show the quote again?

Somerset, Swindon and Nick Morris are all the innocent victims of the BSPA changing their minds on Brady Kurtz. They've created the situation and left everyone else to clear up the mess.

Get your facts straight. Nick has a British passport. His parents are both British. I'll stand corrected but I don't think his British discount made any difference to the Swindon team building plans in 2012.

Don't let the truth get in the way of a good rant then! How can it have nothing to do with Sheffield? Nick said he wanted to go there. Swindon accused them of an illegal approach, subsequently denied. Sheffield did make an enquiry as to his availability. If Nick had gone to Sheffield then Leicester were the obvious EL alternative. They still have a gap that fits so were they waiting to see what transpired? There is much more to this issue than just Morris and Sheffield and you don't have to look too far to see what it is. Some speculation maybe but plenty of fact and way too many coincidences to not have some relevance.

The sport is wracked with self-interest. The clubs have done what they thought was best for themselves as, no doubt, Morris was doing for himself. He was dropped by a club with whom he had a signed contract. He then sought to move away from a club with whom he had no signed contract. When the rider can't rely on a contract he had in place I fail to see how he can be faulted for looking out for himself. I'm a realist. If you can't see what's staring everyone in the face that's hardly my fault.

I can confirm what has already been said. Whilst Kenni would obviously like to be riding in the UK he cannot accept a position with a club riding Saturdays as his Polish club require him to be available to practice there.

It's blatantly obvious that there has been collusion between Swindon and Sheffield. Two clubs at loggerheads with each other all of a sudden settle their differences. Bates is released to Sheffield (his grandfather is one of the new owners there) and they, in turn drop their interest in Morris. Morris' options, in respect of riding in both leagues, as a result are severely restricted. If I were Nick I wouldn't be over happy that clubs had been conspiring between themselves to prevent him moving. How they can now expect him to give his best is beyond me.

Is the the last rider likely to be THJ then or has Matt greased his palm with silver to sit and wait until he needs him later in the season? I hear the request was made as to his availability.

Rosco might be jumping his guns. as of yesterday Nick's transfer request had not been withdrawn.

It was only a matter of time!!

Steve, see my previous. Not every rider needs a new visa every year as they can be issued from 1-3 years at a time. The expiry date on an old visa is set by the applicant, so it could be end of Season (Oct 31 or any time thereafter.) Of those riders knowing that they need a new visa, because their old one has expired or they are changing clubs, they can only do so when they have signed for a team as their contract forms part of the application process. Since the issue with Sam Masters last year it's been a time bomb waiting to go off. You would have thought that anyone likely to be affected would have done everything they could to avoid being caught out. You would, however, have expected the BSPA might circulate all the clubs to ensure that they were aware of the situation. Unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world. Wrong, I'm afraid. Firstly the club has to be an approved employer and recognised by the UKBA. Most clubs are but not all. Travis McGowan was prevented from riding here a couple of seasons ago because of what were called 'visa' issues. Truth be told it was because Belle Vue had signed a rider they couldn't use because they weren't then recognised by the UKBA. They had applied and expected to be accepted but they weren't so Travis missed out. By the time that became apparent Travis had lost any opportunity to find a place elsewhere and hasn't ridden here since. Assuming the club is recognised they have to make an online application to employ a certain rider. Various questions are asked and providing those do not present any issues an accepted application here by the UKBA generates a reference number without which the rider cannot start his part of the application in his home country. So whilst the rider has to do his bit, he can't even start that process until the club have done their part first.

I heard a whisper last night that some clubs are calling for a bigger share of the spoils because they consider they are a more attractive proposition than others and feel they should be compensated for appearing on television more!!

It certainly looks that way. However, there is a degree of responsibility on the club(s) too. Not sure whose sponsor certificate Doyle might be applying under, Somerset or Leicester? He can't start his process until his sponsor here makes their application first. That provides the rider with the reference number which enables them to complete their part. Comes down to whether or not the club concerned did their bit in good time and, if so, was Doyle more concerned on taking a break when got back to Oz rather than attend to the paperwork for next season? Either way Swindon look to have lost out on a £3k loan fee.

Is this in the wrong place?

All of a sudden two clubs that were at odds with each other now have settled their differences. At the same time a 'prize' reserve has been released by Swindon to Sheffield and the Tigers drop their interest in Morris and move in a different direction with their team building plans. Swindons reserve options are severely limited. It speaks volumes that they would put themselves in that position unless there was a quid pro quo. There has been a cosy up between the two clubs over Bates, and maybe another issue or two but I'll leave you to ponder that, in an effort to reduce the options Morris has elsewhere with the end result being that he is effectively resigned to stay at Swindon and, therefore, further reducing his chances of riding in the PL. Swindon saw what an effect no PL racing had on him in 2012 and it was only after he moved to Scunthorpe that his form improved. I'm sure I'm correct in saying that Nick Morris had no issue with Swindon but, like him, they were a victim of the BSPA foul up on Brady Kurtz. Everyone else is having to clear up that mess. Nick reckons, rightly or wrongly, that his chances of riding in both leagues are substantially increased by not riding in the EL on Thursday because of the race clashes that creates. You can take my word or not but Ben Reade was once a Swindon asset. That is a fact. Whether he was transferred, released or whatever is another matter.

Morris wants to go to Sheffield. Bates is drafted by Swindon. Swindon accuse Sheffield of an illegal approach to Morris by a third party. Bates Grandfather is one of the new owners at Sheffield. Bates is released by Swindon to go to Sheffield. Sheffield drop their interest in Morris. And you can't see a connection?

Ben Reade was originally a Swindon asset. Be interesting to see if the was ever any transfer or if he just dropped off the radar and was 'acquired' by Plymouth.

A 'visa' is only issued for a finite period of time, i.e. 1-3 years. Under the regulations introduced last year it must be renewed before the old one expires otherwise you have to wait 12 months. After the situation surrounding Sam Masters last year you would have thought that every club and rider would have been aware of the situation. Jason cannot rely on the fact that he didn't sign for Leicester until after his previous visa expired as he already had a team place at Somerset. You do not need a visa for both clubs if you are doubling up. The sponsors certificate (work permit, visa) gives you the right to secondary employment.