SWINDON Robins team manager Alun Rossiter said that he came away with mixed feelings from the recent British Speedway Promoters Association Annual General Meeting.

While the Robins boss was pleased to see the tweaks made to the draft system - with averages given to the two reserve riders after four meetings – he was not so happy with the compromise made with heat leaders being graded into a list, with a maximum of three per club.

However, the final plans are not set to be ratified until Tuesday, November 3, and Rossiter says that will enable Speedway bosses to iron out any issues that arise between now and then.

“I’m pretty happy with it and I think that we’re doing the right thing by holding on and giving ourselves time to go away and think about the early pitfalls,” he said.

“I am hearing that there are a few issues, so it is a good job we didn’t rush it through on the weekend.

“I think the fast track has improved quite a lot; that is getting better.

“All the riders are actually averaged out, rather than having to pick a rider 40th in the list when we need a replacement; that really annoyed me last season when we went to Coventry.

“The Elite League started the draft system and we suggested the Premier League should have started it, but they haven’t bit the bullet and we feel we should keep it going.

“It has improved certain riders who have come on leaps and bounds. Just look at Charles Wright, who has been knocking around for a few years in the National League. He really came of age a little bit last year.

“We have got to start looking after the British riders and it is our own league.

“Poland do it. They have to have two of their own riders and as a national coach, I am not going to get anybody coming through if we don’t do it.

“At the end of the day, it (the heat leaders being graded) is a happy compromise, but I still think the race format inflates and deflates a lot of averages.

“I think you see there is a massive imbalance, but I will go with it.”

Poole Pirates are the first team to start their team building for the 2016 season with the capture of former Robin Hans Andersen yesterday.

Rossiter says he has at least three riders earmarked for his new side but won’t make moves until after the AGM is completed.

“Matt (Ford) is clever and Hans is on a low average although he is classed as a heat leader,” added Rossiter. “He still comes in at a lower average than we all know he is capable of.

“He will have a scenario, a bit like Davey Watt, where he will come in on a low average and finish on a high average.

“I have got two or three earmarked for next season, but I have got to hold fire at the moment.”