10:22am Friday 30th May 2008
ALUN Rossiter believes the signing of highly-rated Australian youngster Richard Sweetman proves the Robins are big hitters on the Elite League stage.
After much speculation, the 17-year-old is scheduled to arrive in Britain early next month and is expected to spend the remainder of 2008 on loan at a Premier league club.
Sweetman, Australian long track and New South Wales Under 21 champion last year, was being monitored by several top-flight clubs before the Blunsdon outfit swooped.
Rossiter admitted: "A lot of clubs were following him for quite a while and they cannot believe we got there.
"He's a very big talent. I was alerted to him last year and told to keep and eye on him.
"We've been monitoring it, Leigh (Adams) has been on the case, but when we heard other clubs were in there, we were in rather quick to snap him up.
"Leigh had a word, but we are a big club now. Look at what riders say about us. They want to come and ride here.'' Sweetman, also first reserve for this year's five-round Australian Speedway Championship before suffering a back injury, will be based in Swindon when he arrives in the next few weeks.
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