POOLE Speedway co-promoter Matt Ford, one of the most successful bosses of the modern era, has given the new era of British racing his seal of approval.
Ford, who admits he will be forced to release either Bjarne Pedersen or Jason Crump on Monday, believes the bigger picture was the most important consideration during the sport's AGM in Coventry over the last four days.
The Elite League points-limit has been reduced to create more parity between the clubs - but that inevitably means the likes of Poole, Swindon and champions Coventry will be forced to shed riders.
Said Ford: "The top clubs in the Elite League have done this in the best interests of the sport in general. It's a case of short term pain for long term gain in my view.
"The imbalance within the Elite League last season could not continue and we all believe these measures, however strong, will bring us a more competitive league next season.
"Speedway is a fantastic product and we must all go out and tell people that. It's a great sport loved by many people who care passionately about it and we have a system in place where the Elite and Premier Leagues are now closer together which should help the process of promotion and relegation."
And on that subject, Ford - who specifically asked to issue a statement after the AGM to champion the new plans - has unveiled the process.
"The bottom two teams in the Elite League will do battle to go into a final against the winner of the Premier League play-offs," said Ford. "The top four Premier League clubs will battle it out to meet the Elite League team in what should be an exciting final with a place in the Elite League on the line - can you imagine the excitement and tension!
"There is also a financial incentive for the Premier League team in that play-off to reach the Elite League - we can't call it a parachute payment because that's when a team gets relegated, this is the opposite!
"The Elite League was very close to welcoming a new member in the build-up to the AGM but that club ended their interest at the 11th hour. It's now attractive to Premier League clubs to make that move into the top flight.
"We will have some casualties, none more so than Poole Speedway, my own club. You know the rider who is leaving us and it's hard. Very hard. But we retain a belief that we are doing what is best for the sport.
"Promoters need to stop thinking of themselves and move forward for the good of the sport. We will stick together.
"In recent years we have tinkered with the sport and that's not enough. Here we have a three-year plan and no team in the Elite League can afford to finish in the bottom two. Every match will matter and even now, as Poole co-promoter, I feel more pressure to get my team right."
THE PLAY-OFFS:
ELITE LEAGUE TITLE: TOP FOUR
ELITE LEAGUE RELEGATION: BOTTOM TWO, LOSERS TO MEET WINNERS OF PREMIER LEAGUE FOR PLACE IN ELITE LEAGUE 2009.
PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE: TOP FOUR, WINNERS TO MEET LOSERS OF ELITE LEAGUE RELEGATION PLAY-OFF FOR PLACE IN ELITE LEAGUE 2009.
OTHER KEY ISSUES:
TACTICAL RIDE RULES UNCHANGED.
ELITE LEAGUE: Champions Coventry will defend their title against Belle Vue, Eastbourne, Ipswich, Lakeside, Peterborough, Poole, Swindon and Wolverhampton. Reading have elected to move into the Premier League. Points limit: 38.85.
PREMIER LEAGUE: The Premier League have welcomed Reading and have allowed Oxford a limited amount of time to try to secure a deal with their Cowley stadium landlords, the GRA for a return of senior racing to the city. Scunthorpe have also been accepted, which means the League now has 17 certain starters, plus the hoped-for addition of Oxford. The line-up reads: Berwick, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Isle of Wight, King's Lynn, Mildenhall, Newcastle, Newport, Oxford, Reading, Redcar, Rye House, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Somerset, Stoke, Workington. The Premier League points limit has been voted in at 41.5.
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE: Sheffield's Neil Machin has decided to end his time on Management Committee, and has been replaced by the vastly-experienced Alex Harkess of Edinburgh. Pete Toogood remains Chairma! n for a fourth season, with Wolverhampton and Redcar chief Chris Van Straaten staying as vice-chairman, and other members Colin Pratt (Coventry) and Dave Pavitt (Isle of Wight) keep their seats.
COMPETITION INFO:
ELITE LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP:
PRELIMINARY ROUND: Wolverhampton v Ipswich QUARTER-FINALS: Lakeside v Peterborough, Eastbourne v Wolverhampton or Ipswich, Poole v Swindon, Coventry v Belle Vue.
PREMIER LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP:
PRELIMINARY ROUND: Scunthorpe v Sheffield, Reading v Oxford. FIRST ROUND: Glasgow v Birmingham, Rye House v Newport, Somerset v Newcastle, King's Lynn v Reading or Oxford, Workington v Stoke, Scunthorpe or Sheffield v Isle of Wight, Edinburgh v Berwick, Mildenhall v Redcar.
PREMIER TROPHY GROUP STAGES:
GROUP 1: Workington, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Berwick.
GROUP 2: Newcastle, Redcar, Sheffield, Stoke.
GROUP 3: Birmingham, Mildenhall, King's Lynn, Rye House.
GROUP 4: Newport, Somerset, Isle of Wight, Reading.
*Promoted clubs, Oxford and Scunthorpe, are not permitted to enter due to potential fixture congestion.
SUPER 7EVEN:
A statement detailing the dates and venues of the 2008 Super 7even series will follow in due course.
