PREMIER LEAGUE
2012 PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
20 May 2012
Birmingham v Southampton
Hull v Newport
24 June 2012
Newport v Birmingham
Southampton v Hull
8 July 2012
Hull v Birmingham
Southampton v Newport
22 July 2012
Newport v Hull
Southampton v Birmingham
19 August 2012
Birmingham v Newport
Hull v Southampton
2 September 2012
Birmingham v Hull
Newport v Southampton
PREMIER LEAGUE RUNS WITH FOUR TEAMS - posted 22 November 2011
The 2012 Premier League will go ahead with just four teams.
The news was confirmed in a widely circulated email sent earlier today from British Cycling headquarters. The statement read:
"As previously publicised the new Elite League gives a truly strong competition featuring the strongest six clubs in the country with the chance for a play off between the leading teams at the end of the season, should they both end up with the same points.
"Hull, Newport, Southampton and Birmingham make up the 2012 Premier League. Again some enthralling matches are predicted with the top two clubs and the third and fourth placed teams overall having the opportunity to ride off against each other again at the end of the season, thus giving them an extra two matches each to partially compensate for the loss of the maximum potential number of matches due to there being just four rather than six teams within the league."
It is believed a number of clubs were canvassed recently to augment the Premier League to the desired six teams but clubs were unwilling to commit themselves to the national league next season.
LEAGUE PLAY-OFFS SANCTIONED - posted 9 November 2011
Earlier today British Cycling advised that if teams in the Elite and/or Premier League tie at the end of the season, then play-offs will take place to decide the league champions rather than agrregate for and against match scores.
The statement from BC headquarters reads
"For 2012, where there is a tie for first place on league points at the end of the season in either or both the Elite or Premier leagues, a ride-off match between those clubs affected shall be held to determine the 2012 champion in each league where appropriate.
"The provisional date for such a match is set for Sunday 14th October. The venue will be neutral to those clubs participating."
PREMIER CLOSING DATE LOOMS - posted 6 November 2011
With just five days to go before the deadline for Premier League entries, there is growing concern that there'll be insufficient numbers to make the league viable.
As the 10 November closing date approaches, it appears that only four clubs, Birmingham, Hull, Newport and Southampton, will sign up for the new national league competition, leaving its future in doubt.
East Newport and Sandwell made their intentions publicly known at an early stage while anticipated interest from other clubs, including Coventry, Norwich and Stockport has not materialised. A Manchester 'united' team has also been ruled out.
If no further entries are received, the sport's governing body is left with a real dilemma - whether to run the Premier League with just four teams or revisit entry levels for the top-tier Elite League, something they may reluctant to do having already published the 2012 fixtures.
If the 'new' Premier League doesn't get off the ground, Southampton have already ruled themselves out of the Elite League because of the travelling and cost involved.
BIG DECISIONS FOR TOP RIDERS - posted 25 October 2011
Some of the country's top riders face soul-searching decisions over the coming months - who to ride for in 2012.
Tough calls will have to be made following British Cycling's decision to promote two national leagues next season, the Elite League for the top teams and a second tier Premier League.
With the top tier already in place and Birmingham, Hull and Newport pencilled in to be part of the 'new' Premier League, at least seven riders from this year's British final, including national champion Andy Angell, could opt to race in the second division next season. Others with tough choices ahead of them include Paul Heard, Mark Carmichael, Chris Timms, Ben Mould, Adam Stephenson and Matt Beharrell.
What a headache!
Popular British champion Andy Angell has some tough choices to make during the close season
The possibility of Sky TV covering some Elite League matches next season is bound to make that decision even harder. Riders may not quite become household names but the lure of television exposure is bound to raise any competitor's public profile.
Sandwell's exclusion from the 2012 Elite League is bound to set the transfer rumour-mill spinning as clubs vie for the services of some of their top riders including Stoke-based kingpin Lewis Bates.
One rider already has already declared his intentions next season. Norwich-based Ian Grange has agreed terms with Ipswich as they bid to strengthen their squad.
It certainly promises to be a fascinating close season.
NORWICH RULE THEMSELVES OUT OF PREMIER LEAGUE - posted 25 October 2011
One of the country's top clubs has ruled itself out of a place in the 'new' Premier League for next season.
Within hours of British Cycling inviting applications from six clubs to form a new Premier League, Norwich have confirmed they are not interested, at least for the next 12 months, in racing in a national league.
"We can confirm 100% Norwich won't enter the 2012 Premier League" said a club official. "We had a meeting about it and we don't feel we are ready as a club to step back into the league set up and commit to big trips across the country. Maybe in 2013, once we've develop the juniors a bit more, we can re-consider."
Norwich were members of the 'old' Premier League for several years before standing down to concentrate on club development earlier this season. The Norfolk club won wide-spread acclaim for their promotion of the 2011 Wilco British championships, held at Eaton Park in Norwich.
BRITISH CYCLING PRESS STATEMENT - issued 24 October 2011