THE SEASON may not have ended how he wanted it to but Swindon Robins owner Terry Russell is proud of the stable position his team are in heading into 2015.

The 2014 campaign ended on a damp squib as a heavy track saw the Robins fail to claw back the first leg deficit against Coventry in the play-off semi-finals.

Despite the frustrating end to the season, Russell explained that it showed just how far the Robins have come in recent years.

“It was a very disappointing end - the way we got dumped out of the play-offs with the track conditions - but other than that, to have actually been in the play-offs again is great testament to the side,” he said.

“It’s an incredible thing when you consider it a failure when you actually reach the play-off semi-finals.

“I think we have to take the positives out of it. Two years ago, we won the league and for the last two years after that, we have always been in the semi-finals, and that will be our aim again.”

Now Russell is looking to the future and what could be the last year at the Abbey Stadium in its current form.

Plans for a new stadium have been submitted and a consultation was held earlier this year, with Russell set for a meeting with developer Gaming International next week.

“We are totally stable now and all that past has been put behind us now,” he added.

“I look forward to going forward and all our eyes are focused on what should be our last season at the Abbey and looking forward to a new facility.

“We’ve put in track plans to the development people and as far as we are aware, this is our last year in that old facility.

“We look forward to a grand closure of that facility.

“We need it. No matter what, there will be people saying that they prefer the old one, but the fact is the new one will be better, more modern and everything about it will be better.

“I think it gives us hope and a platform to spring forward on.”

Swindon and team manager Alun Rossiter still have two riders to find before the start of the season, including a number one, but Russell has no concerns that they won’t have a team to compete for the play-offs.

“I don’t think it is a lot tougher than any other year,” said Russell when asked if he was finding it difficult this year.

“We have this number one issue at the moment but we are working hard on it and no team has won the league by having their team put together by Christmas.

“I am not stressed on that one. We have irons in the fire and we will be competing in the top four again.

“We need to wait for a couple of things to be resolved. We only just got the fixtures to look at over Christmas and we need to see how they will fit in with Peter Kildemand’s schedule.”