HANS Andersen sees no reason why Swindon Robins should be forced to sign Australian Troy Batchelor on a full transfer from parent club Peterborough.

The Dane sealed his own return to Blunsdon on Monday when he finally completed a protracted loan switch from the Panthers, but Batchelor’s future remains undecided with the Alwalton club insisting he will only move to Wiltshire on a full transfer.

The Robins management believe the new Australian champion should be allowed to move on loan due to the fact he was never considered for a team place at the Showground, and Andersen agrees.

“A parent club should never stop a rider from going somewhere if they don’t intend to use him or offer him a team place. It is another thing if they offer him a team place and he turns it down, then maybe other clubs would have to buy,” he said.

“I don’t think he was offered a contract and they have their reasons, but I don’t see why other clubs should be forced into buying a rider when he has no place to ride.

“It is completely different than in football, because in football if you are not playing and you are sat on the bench you still get paid by your club. As a speedway rider, if you are not on track you are not earning any money.”

Andersen was impressed with the way 25-year-old Batchelor operated during last season’s title-winning campaign, and wants to line-up alongside his good friend again next season.

“Troy played a big part in us winning the league, and he is a very good rider so of course we want him back for next year,” he said.

“He started the season off as the number one, and he certainly has the potential to do that again so it would strenghten our side to bring him back.

“He was so good for the team too, not always on the track, but off track he was a proper team player because he used to drive past the airport and picked up many riders and took them back.

“He was a proper team man so it would be sad not to see him back, and I get on with him really well.”

Meanwhile, the Robins’ Elite Shield second leg visit to Poole on March 29 has been confirmed as an afternoon meeting, starting at noon.

Work is continuing to assemble an impressive field for the Bob Kilby Memorial Meeting on March 14, with the first riders set to be announced in the near future.