Ben91

He added 0.88 across the whole season, at one point he was above seven so to end below six shows he had a pretty barren spell mid season. I'm a fan of Lanham, but as I say it is too late signing him, he will probably retain his average but I don't see improvement from him. Klindt is incredibly inconsistent, Kasper is pretty hit and miss too because of his gating. Len may have gone but it looks like another team of question marks.

I'm available on a three!

Letting NBJ go suggests the plan is for a big hitter and a reserve, plus Klindt has been announced as a heatleader. Lanham will be good in the pits but it's 5-10 years too late signing him. In Morley we've arguably got the best three pointer but if he's got Maassen or Bowen with him there's huge pressure, especially away. Has to be Branford IMO.

That's pretty underwhelming. Worryingly Klindt has been announced at a heatleader on a sub 6 average. Lambert and one of Bowen/Branford/Maassen to complete that I reckon.

How loyal is Garrity? Signed for Rye House for 2015, then asked to be removed from the team before the start of the season and ended up at Sheffield in the PL.

What anthem plays when he wins? Who does he ride for when the World Cup comes around? GB. He grew up in Australia, of course he is going to have an affinity for the country.

The press release says "The Panthers have swooped to land the hot prospect on loan from parent club Rye House for the 2016 season." So NBJ is a Rye asset not a Silver asset. We need to get the team right first, if we have a competitive, entertaining, winning team on track then the improvements to facilities being made quickly won't be of such importance, people will have more patience if they are being entertained. That said now is the perfect time to get the place up to scratch.

Keep bringing age into it makes me feel like a relic at 24! We had a discussion on a forum (shock!) because there had been a press release from an official source stating that Ayres' signing had been confirmed. While it wasn't direct from Kent it contained a quote direct from the horse's mouth, Len Silver, so to speak. Kent were looking into going into the EL next year so the fans were told it was a possibility, what's wrong with that?

There's no argument to be had, no pun either as far as I can see

You do realise all press releases go to the BSPA press officer and are put on their website don't you? Would save you a lot of time not going through every team's websites each day to find the latest news. As for stirring, how so? A rider has been announced and for some reason you alone are refusing to accept it.

So the official BSPA website holds less weight than the Kent one? It is a quote from the man who co-promotes Kent, it doesn't matter where it is publicised, he said the words.

Huge disappointment, there's nobody on an average similar who I'd have taken over NBJ, not even Howarth or Worrall.

That press release on the BSPA website says that he is back at Kent and there is also a comment on it from Len Silver, how much more confirmed can it be...

Redcar had some balls and kept Ben over Konopka last season at first. Then he became victim of the averages really. If he can average four in 2016, which isn't beyond him looking at the standard of other number sevens then he'd not be a terrible signing.

It isn't professional unless the riders are earning a full time living from it, I can't see anyone earning a full time living from NL racing.

' GLASGOW have named Danny Ayres as their three-point reserve for next season. Cambridge-based Ayres, who will continue with Kent in the National League, faces a 700-mile round trip to home meetings but was keen to race for the Tigers. Kent co-promoter Len Silver added: I could not be more pleased. Danny's involvement with forward looking Glasgow can only help him move ahead in his career, and that ultimately means better scoring for the Kings, so it is a win-win situation. ' I'd say it's confirmed.

Press release on the BSPA website suggests that Ayres is confirmed for the Kings next year.

Jorgensen, Vissing, Alden, Smith, Mellgren, Wethers, Carr?

On an average not much lower than NBJ I'd be disappointed if Nelson came back. Barker would be a very good signing as would Nick Morris but there will be plenty of people after them I'd imagine. Morley will probably be one of the better riders available on a three point average, plenty of experience in the PL and at Rye. I wouldn't be disappointed with him or Olly Greenwood but wouldn't mind seeing a Spiller/Wajknecht. If we're going with a Kennett/Lambert top two then we will have to have a long tail, Branford is a must for me as our senior reserve.

I'd take NBJ over Thomsen. NBJ was averaging over his assessed figure pretty much all season, only dropped below it towards the end, he's definitely got a point improvement in him next year at least. I'd have sacrificed Lambert or Kennett to keep NBJ because the point of team building is to sign riders who will improve. So now we're looking at Eddie, Rob, Maassen and Dan Greenwood plus three others I reckon, that reserve pairing would struggle all year.

What a huge balls up. The promotion better have a bloody good team up their sleeve to justify this.

Yes it can, a fixed race night for the EL which PL teams are not allowed to race on would solve the problems of riders being unavailable racing for their other British club, doubling up should be for Brits only too. The necessity for PL teams to all track a three point reserve will mean these riders are competitive, there should have been a draft with two British reserves for each PL team but it hasn't happened unfortunately. Last season (2015) the NL found a good balance, plenty of young Brits have come into the league and made steps forward, something which will carry on next season, the points limit is likely to go up a little but not enough to put young riders out of work and see the old guard come back in stealing pocket money from kids. A few experienced heads do work at this level nonetheless and there is scope to allow this to happen. Things are by no means perfect but they have started to move in a more positive direction. Now is not time to rip up the blueprint.

It would save a lot of hassle if riders were only tied to a club for the length of their contract at said club though. Not sure how the system works in Poland for example but I'd imagine that riders are free to do as they please once their contracts are up over there? Didn't realise the bit about clubs having to own riders to a specific value, surely this is partly responsible for clubs bring overseas riders in on assessed averages just to meet said criteria?

NL will always have this issue while there are stand alone sides and reserve teams, however reducing the points limit last season was a positive step in ensuring teams were all bringing through young riders, while the stand alone teams can still try to assemble title winning teams within the points limit. No major changes to he structure of the NL are needed at all, if anything it is the league with the least wrong at the moment.

I don't think signing a rider in his forties is the way to go either, even if it is someone of PK's calibre.