Michael Farthing wrote:A far simpler solution to the whole problem...
Could someone please remind me, what exactly is the problem which needs to be solved? It sounds as if it is a bit of tinkering at the edges for marginal players, which is a bit like what happens when tax regimes change - there are winners and losers, and invariably transitional arrangements are put in place, until the next tinkering comes along.
As for 8.33 per game, I will confess to being a living example. I decided to drop out of league chess this year, but continue to play county matches- that will be 6 games of chess, so I have to be an ECF member, and now I have learned that I also need to be a member of a club to be eligible for my county. I am not complaining, but I think I could be forgiven for not bothering, and I am sure lots of marginal players would indeed, not bother.