One interesting fact about the team that Monarchs will line up with at the start of the season is that they are all Edinburgh assets. This is in line with Monarchs current policy of using their own assets. This was not always the case.
For example in 1999 Edinburgh started the season with only two of their own riders: Peter Carr and Blair Scott. Carr had only recently been signed from Belle Vue after two seasons on loan to prevent a predatory move by Glasgow. The remainder of the team were on loan. Kevin Little and David McAllan were from Berwick, James Grieves and Stewart McDonald from Wolverhampton, and Ross Brady from Peterborough. Shortly into the season, Little and McAllan were transfered from Berwick while Ross joined later some time after the end of season.
James Grieves remained a Wolves rider. This nearly threw Monarchs team building plans into total chaos in 2000 when he renaged on a verbal agreement to ride for Edinburgh to take a big money offer from Glasgow. Monarchs had already given Glasgow the go ahead to talk to Robert Eriksson. Fortunately, the Monarchs promotion got wind of the move for Grieves just in time to block Eriksson also moving to Glasgow and to recall him. The Edinburgh promotion were highly critical of the actions of their Wolverhampton counterparts in the Grieves affair. They announced that their objective was to use their own assets as far as possible.
This policy was followed last season with a starting team with six Monarchs assets. Reserve Brian Turner and his eventual replacement Will Beveridge were the only riders on loan (both from Glasgow).
The 2001 team are 100% Monarchs assets. All bar Peter Carr were original signings for Monarchs. Blair Scott, Christian Henry, Derek Sneddon and Ben Shields all joined Monarchs as teenagers. Jan Andersen and Robert Eriksson both signed as youngsters coming over from Denmark and Sweden. Andersen signed in 1992 and Eriksson in 1995.
There has been some doubt cast on the legality of the current 'retained list' system operating in Speedway following the Bosman ruling affecting football. This could make all riders 'free agents' at the end of each season. It has yet to be tested in the courts. The fact that Ben Shields was reported to have signed a four-year contract may be a response to this and the shape of things to come.
Meanwhile a couple of Monarchs assets have gone on loan. David McAllan has signed for Berwick while Kevin Little is with Newcastle. There are also reports that Ross Brady will join an Elite League club later this week.