SWINDON Wildcats head coach Ryan Aldridge is over the moon that his predecessor has been given the honour of being the GB men’s head coach.

The coach of the Okanagan Academy, based in Swindon, was announced on Tuesday and Aldridge believes that if he is given the right amount of time that the 40 year old could transform British Hockey.

The Cats boss is hoping that Russell’s experience with the GB under 20 side will mean that more young players will now get a chance in the national side.

“I think it is the right decision and I think that he is the man for the job,” said Aldridge in response to his appointment.

“I hope that they are going to be prepared to put in a long term with it and with him but I think it needs stripping right back to the bones and really looking into great detail the way the senior team are going to play and the way we are going to bring juniors up.

“I think we need more talent coming through than what we have got.

“I think we need more British players coming through from the junior level.

“You look back four or five years ago, if you played in the GB under 20s you were in the top two lines of an EPL team and there are not too many players doing that now.”