Over the past twelve months Monarchs have had to cope with a Glasgow team-building strategy of attempting poach Monarchs riders and targets, even those who have verbally agreed terms with Edinburgh.
This time last year, Glasgow attempted to nobble Peter Carr by approaching Belle Vue who still held his contract. This was despite the fact that Carr had made it clear he was ony interested in riding for Edinburgh. This year, Glasgow have pursued James Grieves, Ross Brady and Robert Eriksson. While Edinburgh were able to block the move for Eriksson and Brady turned a move down, Grieves was snatched away.
John Campbell stated that the best way to stop this sort of thing from happening was for Monarchs to sign their riders on full transfers:
"It's true to say that because of what has gone on with Glasgow over the last two years, we would be keen to have our own riders in our team from now on in order to control who speaks to them and who doesn't."
Monarchs do have a fair asset base but with the constant changes in the league structure and in the points limit it may not add up to a team.
Monarchs have recently signed three riders. Peter Carr was signed on a full transfer twelve months ago from Belle Vue to block Glasgow's bid. In the middle of last season, Kevin Little and David McAllan were signed on full transfers from Berwick. Of last years' team Blair Scott is a Monarchs asset.
Monarchs' assets riding British speedway last season were Robert Eriksson, Paul Gould, Barry Campbell, and Jan Andersen. Other Monarchs assets still riding include Vesa Ylinen and Mike Faria.
Apart from Eriksson who has already agreed to return, the prospects for other Monarchs assets coming back are not strong. Mike Faria and Vesa Ylinen appear unlikely to ride in Britain again while Jan Andersen is currently restricted to the Elite League because his average is too high for the Premier League. Campbell appears likely to stay with Workington while Gould intends to sit out next year.
One of the main reasons why Eriksson is returning is that he is a Monarchs asset. With the ineligability of Jan Andersen, the options were limited. John Campbell commented:
"I can't think of a big name to bring in. There is a general feeling that there is a general feeling right now that there is a shortage of eight point plus average riders. Eriksson and Jan Andersen, another of our assets I have been in touch with, come into this category.. But to suggest that we will go out and buy a Carl Stonehewer or a Sean Wilson, is unrealistic - we wouldn't want to do that."
"If we are going to dip into the transfer market our aim is to buy Ross Brady from Peterborough. I'm also looking at the continent. I'm always interested in what's going on there. However, whether we would risk bringing in a rider on nine points is debatable."
Campbell remains confident that Brady will be signed sooner rather than later:
"Peterborough are having problems trying to put together their own team for next year. They are shocked by some of the demands riders having been asking in the Elite League. They believe that because their division is featured on TV that hundreds of thousands of pounds are available. There isn't. I don't foresee any problems over Ross and I await te next phone call from Peterborough."
Should Monarchs succeed in signing Brady on a full transfer, it remains possible to track a full team of their own assets. With Robert Eriksson, Peter Carr, Kevin Little, and Ross Brady as the top four, this would permit the use of David McAllan and a new three point rider at reserve. There would probably be enough points available to bring in Blair Scott at second string.