NEW head coach Ryan Aldridge predicts Swindon Wildcats will win a championship in “the near future,” but admits the current crop of skaters are not yet ready to challenge for an EPL title.

Speaking ahead of his first official game in charge against Sheffield Scimitars tomorrow, Aldridge says the goalposts have been moved after Peter Russell was axed by the Link Centre hierarchy last week.

The board’s pre-season plans for a tilt at the title have been put on hold due to financial constraints, but Aldridge insists the team will still give their all to secure a play-off berth.

He said: “We don’t have the right mix to win a championship right now, but in the future Swindon can be a championship team.

“I have not set any targets, but as a player or a coach you always put pressure on yourself to do well.

“I have never accepted losing, whatever team I played for.

“Even when they cut the playing budget at Basingstoke, I still went out to win as many games as I could.

“Steve Nell had expectations at the start of the season and they may have changed now.

“But we are still going to try and compete in every single game.”

Tomorrow’s Link Centre duel with Sheffield precedes a trip to rivals Bracknell Bees 24 hours later, and Aldridge predicts another tough weekend.

The new coach held talks with each member of his roster this week, as he bids to stamp his own authority on the Swindon side.

“Because of my situation, I wanted to meet all the boys before practice,” he said.

“I wanted to have a chat to see what’s best for each of them.

“It is not necessarily the team that I would have put together, that’s not taking anything away from the people we have got in the locker room.

“They are all great young players, who are going to have great careers in the game.

“But there are people who might not necessarily fit my style or role, so I have to find a happy medium.”

Aldridge could have Lee Brathwaite fit again for the visit of Sheffield as he targets a winning start to his reign as head coach.

But the former Bracknell Bee knows a return to the Hive on Sunday could prove the sting in the tail this weekend.

He said: “I coached most of the Bracknell team and they are still not talking to me after we beat them last month.

“Jan Melichar has been to my house for Christmas dinner the last two years, but we’ve not spoken either.

“I expect us to beat Sheffield on Saturday and hopefully that will give us the belief to follow it up with another win at Bracknell.”