Rosco gets his man as Theo's axed (From Swindon Advertiser)

Rosco gets his man as Theo's axed

7:00am Friday 6th June 2008 in

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SWINDON stretched their lead at the top of the Sky Sports Elite League to three points with victory over Peterborough Panthers last night - and then axed misfiring reserve rider Theo Pijper.

Robins cantered to a 53-40 success against a Peterborough side who have never won at the Abbey Stadium, but for once all the headlines were made off the track with the news that Pijper is on his way out of Blunsdon.

The Dutchman will slip into Swindon leathers for the final time at Eastbourne tomorrow before he is replaced by Austrian Manuel Hauzinger, pictured right, with Robins boss Alun Rossiter revealing he had no choice but to let Pijper go.

Rosco said: "It's unfortunate but Theo has really struggled this season and it's not doing him any favours.

"We have brought in Manuel Hauzinger. We don't know whether it will work or not, but we have to try something because it is just not happening for poor Theo.

"The crash earlier this season really set him back, and I think he's still struggling to get over that.

"This is not the nice part of the job, but you have to make a decision and people's patience was wearing thin."

Three times Austrian champion Hauzinger is expected to make his Swindon bow at home to Eastbourne Eagles next Thursday.

The 25-year-old has previously ridden for Premier League sides Newcastle, Birmingham and Isle of Wight and Rossiter hopes he can make an immediate impact.

The Robins chief said: "Manuel is hungry, he wants to race and he's going to be based in Swindon which is good for us.

"We just want somebody to get three or four points from the reserve berth. If he can come in and do that job it would be fantastic.

"There were a few sides after him, including Poole and Peterborough, but we enquired about him and there was no hassle.

"It's not nice for Theo, but there's three or four Premier League teams looking at him already so he will get picked up."