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PREMIER LEAGUE
2012 PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES 20 May 2012 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. 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." 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. 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.
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. 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. 2012 Elite and Premier Leagues Following a meeting of the British Cycling Cycle Speedway Commission, a new Elite League has been drawn up. This League will comprise of six clubs which for 2012 will be - Horspath, Ipswich, Leicester, Poole, Sheffield and Wednesfield. A further six clubs will form a new Premier League. Clubs will be invited shortly to apply for a place in this League. Regulations and further details in respect of the running of both leagues will be issued in the next day or so. EAST NEWPORT WITHDRAW 2012 PREMIER LEAGUE APPLICATION - posted 21 September 2011 East Newport have withdrawn their application to compete in the 2012 Premier League. The club have given no specific reason for their surprise decision which was contained in a widely circulated email sent by club secretary Rob Absalom earlier today. "I no longer wish to sit on any of these positions and will concentrate all my efforts into making East Newport CSC the best club outside the PL" said the written statement. Although still not formally confirmed, it is widely believed that eleven clubs applied to join the Premier League next season. The format of the league has been been subject of much discussion of late. With a clear division between those currently at the top of the Premier League and those at the bottom, there seems to be a groundswell of opinion suggesting that the Premier League should be split into two divisions, PL1 and PL2, with a minimum of six teams in each division and automatic promotion and relegation. With Ian Brown putting the finishing touches to his new look Premier League management sub-committee, perhaps the Commission will invite further applications with a view to seriously considering a two-tier set-up. Entries for the 2012 Premier League close tomorrow. In addition to the present eight PL clubs, applications will also be received from Birmingham, Hull and Newport. Premier League manager, David Flemming, has warned that the league could fold unless clubs show more respect to referees. "It has been very difficult finding referees who are willing to referee for "I will be asking the Commission for a change in the criteria points system next season which will reflect if club do not respect match day official. If some clubs do not change, then I will have no referees to appoint. In my opinion this would be the end of the Premier League" he warned. One of the country's top officials, Bob Prince, is said to have quit refereeing Premier League matches following abuse received during a recent match. British Cycling has today circulated an updated Premier League Criteria and Administration document which now includes the previously missing section PLA1, outlining officials duties and responsibilities. It is expected the revised document will appear on the British Cycling website soon. The recently published Premier League Criteria and Administration document re-affirms that television coverage remains a priority for the league's management team. The document also confirms that the Premier League will not be expanded to cater for more than eight clubs which could impact on the likes Birmingham and Hull who are believed to be considering their options for 2012. Clubs have less than six weeks to apply. Applications to join the 2012 Premier League close on 1 August. The Premier League Criteria and Administration document, dated April 2011, has now been posted on British Cycling's website. The full document can be viewed as a download by clicking on There will be few changes to the mechanism for Premier League entry next year. British Cycling has recently circulated an updated Premier League Criteria and Administration document setting out the terms and conditions for entry to the sport's premier league competition. The latest version, dated April 2011, shows few changes from the 2010 version. The only significant differences are a minor change to the scoring system and removal of formal responsibilities of league officials. Entry to the league will continue to be based on an objective scoring system with points awarded for a variety of aspects including support for national competitions, club membership levels, administration, publicity and facilities. The number of points available increases to 618 points this year compared to 558 points last term, the additional 60 points being awarded to those clubs who have qualified Level Two coaches. However, once again, no points are awarded for 'competitive excellence', ie the riding strength of the team. Many commentators argue that the quality of the teams is the 'raison d'etre' for the league, yet no points are awarded for team strength. Critics claim that this is a glaring omission on the part of the organisers which disadvantages highly competitive teams like Birmingham in favour of less competitive sides who have good facilities, membership and coaching infrastructure. Another ommission is deletion of the section setting out the responsibilities of the league's officials, in particular the League Manager, League Recorder and Referees Appointment Officer. These were clearly set of out on the 2010 document under section PLA1 but are missing from the body of the 2011 paper. |
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