BREAKING EXCLUSIVE NEWS: Rossiter quits Robins (From Swindon Advertiser)

BREAKING EXCLUSIVE NEWS: Rossiter quits Robins

12:00pm Wednesday 16th December 2009 in

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ALUN Rossiter has left Swindon Robins to take up a post at Elite League rivals Coventry Bees.

The Robins manager, who has led his side to four consecutive play-offs, told the Advertiser that the move was motivated by family reasons and that the opportunity on offer for him in the West Midlands was too good to turn down.

“You get to a point in your life when you have to ask yourself what direction you are going,” he said.

“I’ve got to a point where I’ve got three beautiful children, and they are my life now.

“An opportunity has come along for me to branch out and do more and it is something that I have to do.”

Rossiter will take up a role as Bees team manager jointly with Colin Pratt. And the man who rode, captained and managed Swindon over 15 years revealed that the deal was completed so quickly that it has taken even him a little by surprise.

“It’s only happened in a week,” he admitted.

“It’s happened so fast that I really haven’t thought about next season.

“I’ve briefly looked (at Coventry’s riders), and it’s very similar to their team last year and they didn’t do too badly.

“They made the semi-finals but came up against a very good Swindon team.”

Rossiter was this afternoon due to be unveiled by Coventry at a news conference at the Brandon Stadium.

And while he is thrilled with the chance to stretch himself further professionally, the new Bees boss confirmed that he would initially find it hard to separate himself from the Wiltshire club.

“It’s a fresh challenge and it could lead on to bigger and better things,” he said.

“It will be hard for a little while because I’ve gone from being mascot to riding to being captain to team managing to co-promoting and I’m very proud of Swindon.

“I’m not distancing myself, I’m still going to live in the town and commute.

“Swindon will always be special to me, but sometimes you have to move on.”

• FOR a full, in-depth interview with Rossiter, reviewing his time at the club and revealing the emotions behind his decision to switch to the Bees, don’t miss tomorrow’s Swindon Advertiser.