Post by Administrator on Nov 18, 2013 12:19:46 GMT
Silver Looks Forward From AGM
Rye House promoter Len Silver has returned from the BSPA’s Annual General Meeting to review the main outcomes from a Silver Ski Rockets perspective for 2014.
The major news emanating from the Conference was the announcement of Peterborough’s withdrawal from the Elite League, with Leicester now elevated to the top flight to maintain a ten-strong division. Silver was saddened by the news of the Alwalton club’s demise, saying that “I am very sorry to see the Panthers leave the Elite League. They have been fine ambassadors and healthy participants at the top level, with a management of the highest integrity.
“The sport cannot afford to lose circuits like the East of England Showground, and hopefully new owners will step forward and place them in the Premier League. If that proves to be the case, it would be very exciting for us at Hoddesdon and our near rivals at Ipswich as it would form a super Anglian Triangle with obvious local derby prospects.”
In the meantime, with the departure of Leicester and with no current decision possible on Peterborough, the 2014 Premier League will consist of twelve teams, but with an extended League programme that offers each club fourteen home and fourteen away fixtures (prior to the Championship Play-Offs). The season-opening League Cup will remain in place, featuring three groups of four clubs, as will the Knock-Out Cup. The draw for both will be announced separately.
As Silver remarks, “Ignoring any progress in the Cups or Play-Offs, the extended League programme will guarantee two extra competitive matches at home, which will make the fixture list more substantial and also help with weekly continuity. We are also hoping that the very successful Test series between Great Britain and Australia will be repeated, and have applied to stage one of the matches if so. It was a thrilling and close encounter on our track this year, and brought in one of our biggest crowds of the season, so it was a “no brainer” to ask for one of the matches.”
Following the agreement at the Conference to maintain a starting points limit for each Premier League club of 42.5, the Silver Ski Rockets can now get down to the serious business of formulating their 2014 squad, with Silver saying, “We went into the Conference with several possible team permutations according to what might be agreed there. Now that it is over, and the league format and points limit are settled, we are hoping to have everything in place rider-wise in the near future.”
Finally, Silver is still working to confirm the opening home date for 2014. He originally indicated a possible date of Easter Sunday, but now admits that it may be earlier given the agreed fixture list and any scheduling requirements.
The full BSPA press statement on the 2013 AGM can be found at www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.23255.
Rye House promoter Len Silver has returned from the BSPA’s Annual General Meeting to review the main outcomes from a Silver Ski Rockets perspective for 2014.
The major news emanating from the Conference was the announcement of Peterborough’s withdrawal from the Elite League, with Leicester now elevated to the top flight to maintain a ten-strong division. Silver was saddened by the news of the Alwalton club’s demise, saying that “I am very sorry to see the Panthers leave the Elite League. They have been fine ambassadors and healthy participants at the top level, with a management of the highest integrity.
“The sport cannot afford to lose circuits like the East of England Showground, and hopefully new owners will step forward and place them in the Premier League. If that proves to be the case, it would be very exciting for us at Hoddesdon and our near rivals at Ipswich as it would form a super Anglian Triangle with obvious local derby prospects.”
In the meantime, with the departure of Leicester and with no current decision possible on Peterborough, the 2014 Premier League will consist of twelve teams, but with an extended League programme that offers each club fourteen home and fourteen away fixtures (prior to the Championship Play-Offs). The season-opening League Cup will remain in place, featuring three groups of four clubs, as will the Knock-Out Cup. The draw for both will be announced separately.
As Silver remarks, “Ignoring any progress in the Cups or Play-Offs, the extended League programme will guarantee two extra competitive matches at home, which will make the fixture list more substantial and also help with weekly continuity. We are also hoping that the very successful Test series between Great Britain and Australia will be repeated, and have applied to stage one of the matches if so. It was a thrilling and close encounter on our track this year, and brought in one of our biggest crowds of the season, so it was a “no brainer” to ask for one of the matches.”
Following the agreement at the Conference to maintain a starting points limit for each Premier League club of 42.5, the Silver Ski Rockets can now get down to the serious business of formulating their 2014 squad, with Silver saying, “We went into the Conference with several possible team permutations according to what might be agreed there. Now that it is over, and the league format and points limit are settled, we are hoping to have everything in place rider-wise in the near future.”
Finally, Silver is still working to confirm the opening home date for 2014. He originally indicated a possible date of Easter Sunday, but now admits that it may be earlier given the agreed fixture list and any scheduling requirements.
The full BSPA press statement on the 2013 AGM can be found at www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.23255.