POOLE Pirates chief Matt Ford has called for an increase to the Elite League team-building averages ahead of this week’s annual general meeting (AGM).
The top brass from speedway’s flagship standard begin a three-day process on Friday to decide the rules for 2015, with the point threshold sure to dominate the agenda.
Top-flight clubs had to work within a 32-point limit – based on the average points scored by individual riders over their past 28 meetings within the past two years – to assemble their five-man teams for 2014.
By the end of the campaign, seven of the nine teams – including the bottom two – had surpassed the rigid allowance with Ford facing the prospect of shaving more than three-and-a-half points from his title-winning quintet should the rule remain in place.
But Ford is confident that his fellow promoters will be keen to relax the restrictions.
Ford told the Daily Echo: “It changes year-in year-out and I am quite sure it will again this time. I cannot for one second see that the average that we had for 2014 will carry forward.
“We always like a high average but others prefer it low. Inevitably, the room manages to find a middle ground and there will be a number of other things that come into the equation.
“There are many things to be decided such as the future of the fast-track system, whether it continues and in what format and that may have a bearing on what happens.
“But I think the majority of teams will want a slightly increased average compared with 2014 because making wholesale changes year after year is not good for the sport or its followers.
“Clubs and supporters like to build a rapport with certain riders, they like to be as one. That is a big part of speedway in this country and constant change helps nobody.”
- Pirates will hold their annual awards ceremony at Wimborne Road tomorrow (7.30pm).
The stars of the 2014 title-winning season – including Maciej Janowski and Kyle Newman – are in the running for awards.
The event will be held in the East Grandstand.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here