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Post by zonkers on Jun 10, 2009 11:38:35 GMT
ELITE LEAGUE PLAY-OFF CHANGES CONFIRMED
Wednesday June 10, 2009
SPEEDWAY’S Sky Sports Elite League Play-offs will involve four teams – and not six as originally planned.
Club bosses were asked to vote on a proposal to slash the end of season competition because of concerns over the time it would take to schedule a system with six teams.
Now the semi-finals will be raced over two legs – the league leaders will have choice of third or fourth placed teams as opponents and will also enjoy a bonus of eight-points.
And the second placed side will have four-points added to their total so the system offers plenty of incentive for clubs to finish as high as possible.
The semi-finals are due to start on September 21 and, depending on TV schedules, should finish on October 12.
A British Speedway Promoters’ Association spokesman said: “We can confirm all Elite League clubs were asked to vote on this issue and the majority were in favour of four teams rather than six.
“We feel sure the play-offs will once again offer a combination of great racing and entertainment as the league title is decided.”
(From BSPA website)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 11:58:30 GMT
Jon Cook's views from the Argus: Eagles suffer as rules change
Eastbourne Eagles have been told they are no longer in a play-off place after an astonishing mid-season U-turn by Elite League clubs.
Promoters have voted to cut the number of teams in this season’s play-offs from six to four.
Eagles are currently in fifth place following impressive wins over Poole and Coventry.
The re-vamp, decided by the clubs themselves via a postal vote, would eliminate Eagles and Lakeside from the play-offs as things stand.
It also reduces any chance of champions Poole making a late bid for honours after their recent much-publicised team changes.
The play-offs were extended from four teams to six during the winter.
Some elements of those changes remain in place.
Semi-finals will still be over two legs, rather than the one-off affairs of previous years.
The team finishing first will still choose whether to race against the third or fourth placed club and there will still be a points handicap system, albeit slightly revised.
Clubs were advised of the changes on Monday through a memo from the BSPA.
Eagles boss Bob Dugard was unwilling to confirm the changes had been made or make any comment.  (I hope he's not ill)
However, his former Eastbourne sidekick Jon Cook, now in charge at Lakeside, described the move as the right decision at the wrong time.
Cook, still based in West Sussex, said: “As much as it might affect my own club I’m totally in favour of having four teams in the play-offs.
“The whole situation where a team comes from sixth place in a nine-team league to win the title would have been the death knell of the play-off system.
“Too often we’re seeing this move in all sports to a ‘last basket in the last second’ American-style mentality and putting consumerism ahead of the spirit of sport.
“That’s not a trend I like as a traditionalist.
“This change will be broadly welcomed. I think it shows people are voting for the interests of the sport rather than what suits their own team.
“Ironically, it looks like Lakeside and Eastbourne could be the ones affected although things could change in the league yet.”
At least five of the nine top flight clubs will have voted for the U-turn.
It is believed fears over fixture congestion and lukewarm interest in the early play-off rounds from Sky Sports led to the change of heart.
Cook admitted: “It’s totally unsatisfactory to do this so late but sometimes you make the right decision at the wrong time.
“This could have been done in January.”
Eagles will still believe they can finish in the top four given the form shown against Poole and Coventry in the past week.www.theargus.co.uk/sport/speedway/eaglesnews/4428759.Eagles_suffer_as_rules_change/Jon Cook is right. Right decision, just wrong time. They need to stop changing rules mid-season. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 12:00:01 GMT
You have to laugh at flapperjack shovlar getting his knickers in a twist about this decision on BSF. ;D
The prick says it's a poor decision and puts all the smaller clubs at risk. Since when have Poole or shovlar ever cared about smaller clubs?
You reap what you sow. Love it!
Full credit to the BSPA for this decision
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 12:02:45 GMT
Common sense seems to have prevailed. Just a pity there didn't seem to be any when they voted in the original idea in the first place.
Six out of nine was always bloody daft. This and the way they have stood firm on team re-building to prevent artificially strong teams actually makes it look as though they have come up with a sudden does of sensible thinking in Speedway land - but I'm sure it won't last long!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 12:55:52 GMT
Shovlar is trying to claim its Eastbourne and Lakeside he cares about as they are being cheated out of the play offs. The guy is as readable as an open book. He really does make me laugh with his Poole are innocent campaign and now the Poole knew they wouldnt make the 6th place play off lol.
If thats the case why would they bring in a world star like Hans only to be left lumbered with his huge wage bill for the rest of the season if it wasnt in the hope of getting to 6th and having a very strong team to turn over the handicap.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 13:10:29 GMT
I have to agree it is the right decision, just 7 months too late. I said at the time the play-off system was announced it was a joke that 2/3rds of the league were going to qualify for it.
However those were the rules agreed and I think it's a disgrace that they have changed the number of teams qualifying for the play-offs mid-season. It really could only happen in speedway.
Rico
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 13:30:51 GMT
I think it would be more of a disgrace if a team surrounded by claims of match fixing and average manipulation managed to sneak 6th and then went on to win the league with a super strong team.
Just my opinion mind you.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 13:42:47 GMT
The right decision.
And even if we (Eastie) finish 5th, it's still the right decision.
But why do the BSPA insult our intelligence with all that "time scheduling" crap.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 14:39:18 GMT
I think Lakeside deserve alot of praise they voted for this move and in doing so may well of ruined any chances they had of reaching a play off place but they did this for the sport as a whole not the hope of personal glory.
A big well done to the Lakeside promotion.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 14:51:21 GMT
Sense has prevailed, and effectively shut the door on Poole, without the powers that be having to rule anything for or against them ;D. I am so glad that Mr Shovesh1te has lost his £250.00 now, (not that it's much to him alledgedly), now we just need Eastie and the peskies to up their games a bit and usurp the Bees  , and speedway will have won, irrespective of the eventual winners. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 15:43:26 GMT
Right decision but as some say a little too late. Makes a mockery out of the sport changing the qualifying criteria for the play-off's half way through the season, but less of a mockery than if a story of a team who were allowed to cheat their way into the play-off's by average manipulation hit the headlines.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 16:13:05 GMT
I think it would be more of a disgrace if a team surrounded by claims of match fixing and average manipulation managed to sneak 6th and then went on to win the league with a super strong team. Just my opinion mind you. I would agree re the sneaky 6th team, however there has to be proof and if there is, punish the team found guilty accordingly. If this, as some are suggesting, is supposed to be a punishment to Poole then it's the wrong way to go about it. If they've done wrong, fine them, deduct them points. Do something that directly affects Poole. Don't go moving the goalposts for every team halfway through the season. Rico  |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 16:34:32 GMT
I am so glad that Mr Shovesh1te has lost his £250.00 now, (not that it's much to him alledgedly) Hate to disappoint you Badgester but if Mr Shovlar was to kick up a fuss he would undoubtedly get his money back(he might do anyway) the same could be said for any punter who's 'pick' has no chance of making the top four. If all bets are voided the only losers would be the people 'on' Wolves or Peterborough at big prices, assuming one of them was to win the league. Personally i think the decision is a shocker, i can see no way on earth of Poole making the top six, they are still not that strong and far too far behind, if they are guilty of cheating this will not affect them a jot, the only loser AGAIN is the credibility of the British league. Oh and just in case someone such as Genghis gets hold of the wrong end of the stick, i am not a fan of the play-offs full stop, but if they HAVE TO exist they should not involve more than four teams and should all be 'one leg' only. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 16:35:04 GMT
But the rule changing seems to me to have been worse this year than any other, so this would be par for the course, at least the majority of promoters, self seeking or not seem to have tried to correct a mistake, OK not the best idea doing it at this particular time, but something had to be done to try to rectify the damage that one or two teams are inflicting on EL speedway at this present moment. An SR was brought out to prevent us using Darcy, the 8 match rule has been brought in to prevent Coventry strengthening, and now this....... scrap the existing rule book and start again is my opinion, and make sure there are no areas where loopholes can be found. and all sing from the same hymn sheet. Please. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 17:36:42 GMT
You have to laugh at flapperjack shovlar getting his knickers in a twist about this decision on BSF. ;D The prick says it's a poor decision and puts all the smaller clubs at risk. Since when have Poole or shovlar ever cared about smaller clubs? You reap what you sow. Love it! Full credit to the BSPA for this decision I don't think very many of us thought that having the top 6 in the Play-offs was a good decision, but how unprofessional to btring in a new rule (on the hoof) and then change it 4 months into the season. Typical BSPA. It affects three teams out of nine, not just Poole, but we have another poster on here who has to have a dig at Poole! |
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(I hope he's not ill)
, and speedway will have won, irrespective of the eventual winners.