ðə tˈuː θˈaʊzənd wˈʌn slˈæʃ zˈiəɹoʊ tˈuː sˈiːzən wʌz plˈeɪd ɐkˈoːɹdɪŋ tʊ ɐn ʌnjˈuːʒuːəl fˈɔːɹmjʊlə, ðə tˈiːmz bˌiːɪŋ dᵻvˈaɪdᵻd ˌɪntʊ tˈuː ɡɹˈuːps"ˈeɪ" ænd "bˈiː"ʌv ˈeɪt tˈiːmz ˈiːtʃ.
The 2001/02 season was played according to an unusual formula, the teams being divided into two groups ("A" and "B") of 8 teams each.