oldtimer

If I were the Hancock family, I would be seriously wondering why I bother trying to run a speedway club!

Add to this list Ryan Douglas, Joey Ringwood.

If you read this weeks Speedway Star, the BSPA statement is that Doyle should have obtained a 3 year visa. The BSPA were aware of the legislation and every club was told what to do several times. At the moment it's Doyle, Alex Davies, Ryan Douglas, Tyson Nelson and Joey Ringwood who are affected. In 2014 Somerset are to be renamed The Rye House Rebels, or The Somerset Select Rebels, a decision will be made in the next few weeks.

Grajczonek could have stayed at Somerset but allegedly couldn't agree terms and had a better offer from Worky. Also at Worky he would be number one and not in the shadow of Doyle and Morris.

So far as I know at the moment it's Rye House's Tyson Nelson, Plymouths Alex Davies and Somerset's Jason Doyle, can't understand how some, like ex Somerset and now Worky rider Josh G and others are Ok.

I assume you are asking this because Brady would be missing a few meetings if he is in the under 21

Just read further on in the Star and Plymouth say Alex visa turned down, so that explains it.

Am I on the wrong thread, topic seems to have changed?

puzzling quote in an article written by a Helen Kennedy in this weeks Star. Talking about Somerset's opening match challenges against Plymouth. Gary is quoted as saying "it will see an early return of Kyle Newman which should provide added spice to the matches and with Kyle lining up for The Devils it will give an additional edge no doubt." No mention of Alex Davies, very strange, perhaps it's his visa problem!

I thought Jason did not apply for a visa by the cut off date as his previous visa was only for 10 months, (he was quoted as saying "for some unknown reason".) He could not apply for a new visa until he was signed by a club for 2014 and by the time Somerset signed him it was too late. I assume Somerset did not sign him until after the AGM when the rules and team averages were confirmed.

Looking at the U21 World Championship dates for 2014, Brady will be missing a few of Somerset away matches if he does and perhaps a couple of home matches.

That's last years rules, have a look at the 2014 fixture list.

It looks like dad's army instead of speedway, although event does not start until the Sunday, assume setting things up on Friday. Will Brady be in the World Under 21 Championship in 2014 or is he too young to qualify?

With the extra fixtures next season, not much chance of that, unless we have a dry summer.

They weren't involved in the LC finals.

Somerset are against Peterborough on Friday 29 August that's true but that does not explain why Plymouth are at Oak Tree on a Wednesday 20th August when Somerset don't have a fixture home or away on Friday 22nd August.

You say many clubs are finished by end of August, not sure there was many, many clubs however were struggling to complete their fixtures, as far as I remember the cup competitions went into October, Somerset winning the League on a wet last day of the season. It would make more sense that if we have a dry summer for a change, and with few rain offs, and if some teams finish their fixtures early, that the BSPA declare another end of season competition, which is open to any teams (not compulsory) who wish to take part. Does not matter what you call it or the format. With this Mickey Mouse choose your own teams system, you don't know before the start of the season who will be the weak teams or the strong teams, especially when injuries come into play. You will find some clubs playing twice against bottom of the League clubs and some playing twice against top of the League clubs, hardly a level playing field to decide the champions. Ipswich meet Rye at home on May 31st and 26th June, Somerset have also drawn Rye House to double with and meet them at home on 6th June and 8th August. I don't know how many teams have chosen Rye House, but presumably every team could double with Rye or is there a limit, would be interested to know, how or what priority this system works.

Looks like they didn't listen!

Somerset is a Friday club, so what's the problem? According to the fixture list Somerset are meeting Newcastle home and away in something called the Premier Shield. And then the stupid bit, they meet Rye House and Plymouth twice home and away in The League. Plymouth visit The Oak Tree 4 times next season a challenge, LC, twice in the League and any KOC or Play Off's if they both qualify. We can only hope we do better at Plymouth then last season.

Just looked at the fixture list on BSPA site and it would appear that clubs are meeting some opponents twice home and away in the Premier League (not LC). I thought this daft idea was suggested when Leicester decided to move up and the Premier would be one team short. Now that Peterborough have joined the Premier to fill the gap, why is this choosing the clubs you want to meet more than once still in place. Just one more reason I shall be absent next season.

From what I am reading elsewhere Nick Morris does not want to ride for Swindon and has put in a transfer request, he says a move will further his career and has been approached by Leicester. Gary May said the main reason for releasing Nick was the matches he would be missing as Swindon had first call on his services. I assume if Nick left Swindon then like Doyle at Leicester, Somerset would have first call. Unless Nick has suddenly made this decision why did he not tell Gary he wanted a move from Swindon, we could have kept Nick and changed Olly. Would not be surprised if Nick ended up at Leicester with Doyle, in the Star it says Leicester are looking for a new team manager, now I wonder who that might be?

We can always go to Swindon!

I agree basic speedway is a £10 sport unfortunately because the people running speedway have allowed the costs to rise with more expensive equipment being required to make a rider competitive they have to charge more to the public. It could be a £17 sport if the presentation was right, standing in silence with no atmosphere, poor sound system, 60,s music and presenters who sound like station announcers is what brings it down.

Doyle is trying to get a temporary visa which is available to professional sports people for 1 year. Apparently it's all down to the BSPA, so little hope there then! He could always apply for political asylum, when it's turned down lodge an appeal, this should mean he can stay until the end of the season before it's sorted out, he will probably also get a free house. In the Daily Mail today it says that millions of pounds from Britain's overseas aid budget is being diverted to fund housing and benefits for asylum seekers living in the UK.

With the FIM calendar now published for 2014 giving the dates for the GP qualifiers, the World Cup dates, the World Under 21 Championship, and the World Under 21 Team Championship, would it be possible to arrange that League matches do not clash with these dates for clubs who have riders taking part. I know it will take more time and involve more work but anything must be better than the current system of someone blind folded picking names and dates out of a hat. Fans are fed up of riders missing matches for other commitments. Also can the KOC and PT be completed by mid season when the weather is hopefully better rather than all finals being arranged for cold and wet October nights.