Edinburgh having faced a dilemma is the choice for the reamining second string position opted for Blair Scott over Stewart McDonald.
Monarchs are showing commendable loyalty to the seven who started last season. Kevin Little has already been re-signed while Peter Carr and Ross Brady seem set to follow. James Grieves has moved on and David McAllan may be ruled through injury but both would have been likely starters. The operation of the points limit meant that either Scott or McDonald had to miss out.
The two riders have almost identical averages. While Blair Scott certainly finished the season on a high with some match-winning performances in the cup, there are other factors to be taken account of. John Campbell added:
"Blair does belong to us and we would always look to our own assets first. And because their averages are so similar the cost to the club will be nil no matter what happens. Any possible loan or transfer fees would cancel out."
"Wolverhampton own Stewart's contract, but I'm loath to deal with them after what happened with James Grieves."
Blair's home form has been very impressive but he did ride most of the season at reserve. As Monarchs' injury crisis hit, Blair was often taking seven rides to cover the holes and this probably depressed his average. Stewart spent the bulk of the season in the very difficult number two position but was scoring freely in his brief stint at reserve.
Over all matches, Blair averaged nearly seven and a half points at home but between three and a half and four points away. Stewart averaged just over six at home but over four and a half away. Clearly home points are very important for two-legged cup fixtures but away form counts for more if chasing a League Championship, as pointed out by John Campbell:
"Home form doesn't really come into. I believe we'll always have a team capable of winning at home. You only claim championships by winning away from home and that has to be a major consideration."
It is possible, as John Campbell admitted, that the decision could well have come down to the money:
"Blair and Stewart are equally capable of doing a job for us. I'm always entirely influenced by what their demands will be."
"If one asks for too much, the other will be given preference. If both ask for vastly more than we can afford to pay then we would look elsewhere. There are other candidates for the job."
The speed with which Scott's signing was announced probably indicates that there was no problem negotiating terms. John Campbell added another dig at Glasgow:
"It's our desire to have our own riders in this years' team. This is to prevent people from the West of Scotland making life difficult for us. We approached Blair and quickly agreed a deal."