Cliffeboy

I think you will find that Brady was pencilled in last season but because of his age was a non starter, don`t think Todd was considered then however. You are probably right about Nick though, but as for Proctor that was only through Doyleys visa cock up,hardly Gary`s fault. Let see how the season pans out before we judge whether he has got it right or wrong, one thing is for sure he will not be scared to make un popular decisions for the sake of the club.

All the very best to Olly Allen who has been named as the Rebels skipper for 2014.

Ha ha Ars onfire how can you Watch a race on the updates site. I have a lot of very good friends down Somerset way who keep me well informed on all of our riders performances, an opinion I back up myself when I get the opportunity to go myself.I`m guessing from the mode of your post that you are fortunate enough to be able to attend most of your clubs meetings, lucky you.I was in a similar position a couple of years ago but not now unfortunately,but while the forum remains an avenue for supporters to air their opinions I will. IMO Kyle Newman is a goodun and always gives 100%.

doh

Unless I`m mistaken I thought the position of the No 1 in any team has to be the rider with the highest average, so if the lions had signed a rider with a higher average than Jason then surely in your world that would be ok and JD would be "eligible" to compete in the Prem. He was also announced in the Rebels team before the Lions. You have a goodun in Kyle Newman, 100% every race.

I love the doom and gloom merchants, good supporters stick by their team whatever the results ( and being a Spurs fan I would know ).Good luck to the 2014 Rebels , I would love it if we were to get some silverware this season against the odds. At least it looks like we will not be carrying the burden before a wheel has been turned of being the favourites for the title as we have done for the last two seasons. Thanks Jason,Nick,Josh,Alex,Kyle,Stefan,Tom,Oliver and Lewis for an unforgettable 2013, I`m sure there will be a warm welcome for you all if and when you return to the OTA. Come on Ty,Todd,Pontus,Brady, Olly, Charles and Paul. "Still proud to be a Rebel".

So the dust has settled and it`s Proctor for Doyley. If he can replicate the form he was showing when he got injured the Rebels may be ok. In saying that though these are massive shoes to fill but all the very best to him and all the "New Rebels".It will be odd following them this year without Alex,Kyle and JD, fixtures in the side for the last two seasons and beyond. It will be hard I think with so many new faces trying to get dialled into the OTA at once, home advantage will be out of the window I feel at the start.Here`s my slant on the team. Ty Proctor - Hardest job of all following the Somerset icon that Doyle has become. Todd Kurtz - Put on a great show for us in the famous 4 man match at Rye which probably helped his cause. He can be a valuable and useful reserve,not sure about him in the team proper.Has a liking for the OTA though. Pontus Aspgren - He asked about joining us pre season so he should be up for it at least, 3rd heat leader though,not sure again. Brady Kurtz - Heard nothing but good things about this lad, the Rebels have been after him for a while so hopefully he does ok. A first season similar to Sam Masters will do for me.He is very young I just hope people don`t expect too much from him. Olly Allen - I am expecting big things from him, he has to become the new leader on and off the track and challenging Proctor for the No1 jacket. Charles Wright - Good old Charlie the only one left from the all conquering 2013 side.I looking to him to get his average progressing like Alex Davies did over the last couple of years. Paul Starke - Did very well last term in the National League if he can get his average up to 4 he`s done ok. Finally I can`t see this team being anything near last years team, top 6 maybe........it will be very tough.

Not sure, I think so if he is No 1.

Probably the BSPA if you read the Somerset account of what happened as they were led to believe Brady was coming in on a three,which apparently was what his parents thought aswell. If you are interested in apportioning blame then surely it is there.There is an excellent explanation of the whole saga on the Rebels website. "IF" Nick were to return Somerset would be allowed a guest for these fixtures I think, rather than having to cover with r/r, as he would then be our No 1.

I love posts like this, I do not think for one minute Somerset will be "begging"anyone to ride for them. As noted earlier Nick was in the team and wanted until a mix up over averages meant he was released, not his or Somersets fault.Nick is massively popular with the crowd and the promotion at Somerset and as Gary May pointed out at the time a horrible decision had to be made. I would imagine that if JD can`t come back Nick would be a shoe in to come back a situation that would suit both parties, but not the end of the world if he didn`t.For what it is worth I was gutted that he was released but understood the reasons why, the club is bigger than any rider and I for one would be well happy if JD`s misfortune would result in Nick coming back. A decision I think Doyley would endorse aswell.

Quote gadget playing up AGAIN, Dave you are the man.

If that were the case then a decision has to be made on him riding for only one club this season.I am a Somerset supporter and would love to have our skipper back but I feel the best solution would be for Nick to return to Somerset ( if poss ) and JD to ride for the Lions.In saying that though bearing in mind all the work Debbie is putting into this for JD and the Rebs it would have to be the Rebels,a very difficult situation which I think is going to all end in tears unfortunately.

Agree.

I still say Nick Morris, he would then be the No 1 so missed matches for Swindon fixtures would mean we would have a guest for him ( I think )rather than trying to cover with R/R.

Don`t quite agree Naj,it seems that certain understandings had been reached regarding Brady re his average which then went pear shaped at the eleventh hour, had the promotion been told categorically told he was a five I don`t think the Nick Morris situation would have arisen , so more a misunderstanding rather than bad management.As for Jason , its the government, if the management had known Jason would not get a permit they would not have offered him a place surely, once again hardly amateurish, more bad luck.By the way it could be worse as a lot of the Rebels fans were bemoaning that Alex had not been retained, but he too is having grief with the visa thing,imagine if he had been named in our septet aswell, gulp.

Good job you are nothing to do with Swindon then.

Bad luck for Doyley in the Aussie champs finishing second to Holder.He does have some bad luck in finals, he lost the Prem champs a couple of seasons back when a crash at the back caused a rerun when he was comfortably in front, in the rerun his crash finished his season and probably cost Somerset the title.I see he picked up some grip whilst in front of Noddy and came off gifting the title to him after going through the card unbeaten.I really hope he gets his visa sorted both leagues will be poorer without him.

Sort of agree, but why sign him in the first place ?, if JD was unavailable I think the Rebs would have to bite the bullet and go for Nick,as I said earlier( again) a big favourite at the OTA.

Pass.

Don`t understand this visa thing at all, Crumpie, Leigh Adams never had a problem,was it because they were Gp. It will be a massive blow for Jason personally not being able to ride over here after making great strides last term.Not sure about the "cap in hand" reference to Nick, I`m sure he would love to be riding for Somerset again, as I pointed out earlier it was the numbers game that mucked it up for him and the Rebels.I would think anyone who rides speedway accepts that this type of thing can happen. I hope it all pans out for Jason, Nick and Alex one way or another. Happy new year everyone.

Re Alex, Gary said he is a Rebels asset and very much in our future plans but thinks a spell away from the OTA will improve his form on away tracks, good sense imo. As for Nick he knows he is a victim of the numbers game due to the Kurtz fiasco and bringing Pontus in gives us a more balenced look. It would not surprise me to see both of them in the mix for 2015.

This would cost "how much". Good team though.

Whilst living round Roscoe`s house, unlikely.

" Lot of pressure on Oliver Allen to back up Doyley now. I would have preferred Klindt to Aspgren tbh but we will see. From the looks of things not the powerhouse appearance of last years team but packed with potential. I think Workington for me are pre season favs with Ippo looking handy,so maybe the trophies might be spread out a bit in 2014. Very disappointed to be losing Nick, I`m sure he will be gutted not to be turning out for us again,as will the OTA faithful who have really taken to him. "Despite the Kurtz family receiving confirmation from the BSPA Office in Rugby that Brady’s wish to ride in Denmark during 2013 would not affect his proposed 2014 3.00 starting average with Somerset, the fact he then attained a riding average with the Danish authorities meant that Brady would no longer be eligible for that 3.00 average, and instead a 5.00 figure would be applied, something, it would appear, that the BSPA Office failed to make the Kurtz family or the Somerset promotion aware of." The above is from the Somerset site which I think shows that no skullduggery was intended by the Rebels

Still unofficial of course, maybe the Rebels have someone lined up to replace Nick already.....plan B, shame if it is true though, hugely popular this term. I think that leaves 6.95 ish for the replacement .......Nicolai Klindt 6.93 ?