Big Al

Kenni Larsen's Polish club having that much control over him, doesn't appear to be applied to Peter Ljung, Mads and Paddy Hougaard - or arn't those 3 doing Poland this year? Or maybe Kenni's club see him as a key rider whereas the other 3 are more like squad riders in their teams?

Unless Vodaphone or Starbucks sponsor the EL as a way of avoiding even more UK tax!!

Maybe the fact that match fixture dates are now "sorted", could be a help. Riders who may have previously been reluctant to consider Leicester because of the "Saturday" problem, can now see just what the commitment would be. For example, no GP/SWC clashes except for Eastbourne away, although I'm not sure about any potential SEC clashes. Polish clubs only seem to have a problem with Polish riders being engaged in the UK on Saturdays. There's also the impending announcement (so we are told) about TV coverage and league sponsorship to keep in mind. This seems to keep on being delayed, but if league sponsorship is forthcoming, it could provide a bit more financial elbow-room when it comes to signing a rider? F.Lindgren + L.Bjerre would fit I think - but can't see it actually happening!

In my Chambers English Dictionary, "To Announce" is defined as "To Declare" !! BSPA must have their own dictionary then, thanks for clearing that one up.

And Doyley's name's been there on the BSPA website in both of the teams for quite a while hasn't it? On Somerset's team even longer than on Leicester's. Decisions on tier 5 applications are usually made within 10-15 days. I'd say the more EU riders David Hemsley (or whoever) contacted and was turned down by, and hoping he kept good records of who he asked and the reasons for them rejecting Leicester, the better for Doyle's tier 5 application having chance of succeeding. Just hope there's not a brilliant Bulgarian rider around who everyone's overlooked!

No, it has 2 strands to it. The difficult part, is proving there isn't someone already in the EU, who could have been employed in the role According to BSPA rules they aren't allowed to!

1 in 4 chance of success with a Tier 5 - needs BSPA backing and a seriously good standard of application.

I find that a bit difficult to believe. Surely he and Somerset had tied up a deal for 2014 by the time his old visa was due to lapse. Can't recall exactly but think that Somerset declared their side early. So did they (Somerset) and Doyle both mess up and not actually formalise anything in time for a deadline they should both have known about. Sounds like it. If the BSPA can't do much to help, it presumably means that nothing in the way of a printed & signed contract was lodged with them by the necessary deadline(the end of the visa's period of validity).I don't think any of the parties involved has much in the way of valid excuses for this, and it has led supporters of two teams up the garden path as well.

Well I;m just taking from what it says on the BSPA website. Surely a job can be offered & accepted first, then get the visa, then be delcared in the team is the sequence? .....the job offer in this case having been with Somerset

Declaring a foreign rider in a team, when that rider does not have the required permit at the time of the declaration, is against BSPA rules and if the rumours about Doyle are true, Leicester could potentially get their wrists slapped - and claiming ignorance is not acceptable, the club has a responsibility to ensure they know for certain about a rider's status, even though the rider could have been personally negligient. The same will therefore apply to Somerset. But at least they can re-instate Morris, if he wants to return there of course after the way he was treated (innocent victim of incompetence).

PM on FB? Are these more "rude words" abbreviations? Can Gemini translate, please! When the TV arrangements are finally sorted and announced, the fantastic entertainment provided by the Leicester track will mean most matches get shifted to Mondays anyway, so problem solved

Presumably those 2 aways are Swindon!

Thought i counted 5 Thursdays - but whatever, that would be a difficult one to get around. Not sure if Sheffield would be able to afford to buy him, and would be very surprised if Leicester could!! If he leaves, Swindon may have to settle for loan fees, in which case the question of who has first dibs could be even more complicated. Time to just sit back and wait now, same as for the Doyle scenario. Well i suppose he can always wash bikes as his "secondary employment"

But he was dumped by a team (presumably after having signed an agreement with them) at a point where alternative employment possibilities had already become very limited. If that had happened when a good amount of alternatives were still available, the current situation would probably not apply. Whether it was the fault of Somerset or the BSPA, or both, they have brought the situation about, not Morris. If Swindon don't resolve the situation, and having (I think) submitted a transfer request in December, Morris could take the matter to arbitration with the SCB/ACU, who are obliged to make a decision which is "in the best interests of speedway". Due to notice requirements, that couldin theory take until well into March, if Swindon don't want to budge. If the SCB/ACU do have to make a ruling - what will they deem to be "in the best interests of speedway"? Morris riding only in the EL (for Swindon); or Morris riding in EL for (Leicester or Poole) and in the PL (for Sheffield). Keeping in mind the situation hasn't been of Morris's making, my money would be a ruling in favour of the latter as "in the best interests of speedway. The ball's in Swindon's court now i think. There options are 1. Hold out until a possible arbitration ruling which maybe won't be until March - and run the risk of having to rebuild the team with the season about to start 2. Decide to grant Morris his transfer request now and adjust their team 3. Try to get the arbittration process moved forward, with the agreement of Morris and BSPA/SCB. If Morris does get his wish, I bet you that in 2015 he will be back with Swindon, best buddies with Rosco again!

....or maybe that was a highly convenient reason!? Rumour was Sergei Darkin

Don't think its Leicester who have upset Swindon. In fact Leicester seem to be taking great care to not cross the line, which is the only sensible course to steer. Sheffield, however, have upset Swindon as well as Morris himself. Any prospect of Morris joining Leicester in 2014 would seem to hinge on him getting his "wish" of a move to Sheffield. It's presumably the current state of the relationship between Swindon and Sheffield's prospective new owners, with the BSPA's stance also a factor, that is the main stumbling block to any resolution to the situation. In fact, I don't think the new owners of Sheffield have formally taken control yet, so it could be a while before they are in a position to conduct any "business" especially of such a tricky nature. So the BSPA could be taking an even dimmer view of things! I think that Leicester were almost on the point of announcing rider #5, when the Morris situation got going. With 5.94 available for rider #5, and the possibility (no more) of Morris (avg 5.90) ending up at Leicester, its probable that David Hemsley put the #5 "signing" on ice. However, how long can Leicester afford to wait for, with no guarantee things will be sorted out favourably with Morris? There may also be a mild panic arising from other EL promoters, that Leicester, who are supposed in their eyes to be just making up the numbers in 2014, would be changed into playoffs contenders with Morris added to the team!

So by my admitedly dodgy maths, this seems to mean no Nick Morris for Brum

Yes, whole thing has always seemed to be built on sand, based on custom. In order to remain an "asset" of a team, does that team have to pay a rider a fixed annual retainer fee? Or just a percentage of any loan fees received? Or nothing? If it's the latter, how can there possibly be any contract, and any legal basis of the asset system.

Totally agree with you. There has to be "consideration" in order for any contract to be valid. Unless Swindon have paid Morris monies up-front in return for him allowing himself to be "owned", there can't be a valid contract, and Swindon(and any other team for that matter) if legally challenged, would have difficulty in enforcing a "contract" which isn't valid.

Can you imagine anyone except a tame "yes-man" being appointed? But you never know, a change could have come over DH and he might be looking for someone who can stand up and challenge and be respected by him. On the other hand, I might stand a decent chance of sh*****g Myleene Klass.

Fireworks! That would be an understatement

Depends who's winning the match at that point of course!

Thick fog developing from Wiltshire up to South Yorkshire, not expected to clear anytime soon. Hot air building up on the south coast.

We can only hope it is an "administrative" problem, and that Jason is able to re-apply, in time for the season starting. From what I've read elsewhere, the big problems have occurred when riders have re-applied at too late a date i.e. after the existing visa has expired. I think we'd need to know more about the particular circumstances of Jason's case, before getting too gloomy. So if anyone does have that information.........................?

The BSPA is a quasi-cartel, meaning the promoters are collectively responsible for the cock-ups. Not the riders. End of.