h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Dear Phantasy Phootball manager.

This season's competition is on A2840465. Make sure you subscribe to this page - all announcements will be posted there.

Linked from this page are the lists of all the eligible players, which I have gone to some trouble to compile for your benefit. Please let me know if any of your favourites appear to be missing or in the wrong position.

The bidding for the first round will close a week today (23rd July). The procedure is as normal - send me an email (my address is on the main page) containing the following:

- Your Researcher name
- Your 'amusing' team name
- Bids for 11 players (1 GK, 4 D, 4 M, 2 S). Remember you cannot have more than three players from any one Premiership team and your spending limit is £50m

To avoid any of the price-fixing shenanigans that the summer competition faced, the first round only will have a few MINIMUM bids imposed. These are:

- For GK, minimum £2.0m
- For D, minimum £1.0m
- For M, minimum £2.0m
- For S, minimum £5.0m

I expect these minimums to be relaxed after the first round, although the League will still reserve the right to fix a minimum price tag on any player.

After the first round has ended, we will have a second round of bidding to fill up the gaps, and then - if necessary - a 'panic-buying' third round before the season kicks off.

Don't forget that there are 14 managers this time round, so you can't all expect to get a team of superstars.

Good luck.

B