SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter has re-entered the ongoing debate about the future of top-flight speedway in Britain by warning the sport’s bosses: “We can’t carry on like this.’’

Rossiter insists the administrators must face making crucial decisions to revitalise the sport in this country, with most of the world’s top riders swerving the domestic scene and some clubs facing hardship because of an erratic and limited fixture list.

The Robins team boss echoed comments made by Poole Pirates’ promoter Matt Ford, who has unveiled his radical ideas for a shake-up for British speedway, including more fixtures, a restoration of cup competitions and the implementation of a squad system.

While Rossiter has expressed support for some of the ideas, albeit with caveats, he has backed Ford’s contention that a lack of continuity is causing many of the sport’s fans to stay away.

The Poole boss has pledged to pitch his ideas to British speedway chiefs if he gains the backing of Pirates’ supporters for them, while Rossiter admits “big talking’’ is required to find a remedy.

“For me, the most important thing is we need to get back to regular speedway,” Rossiter told the Advertiser.

“We’ve seen some rules brought in and yes, we have made some mistakes.

“There are too many gaps in the calendar. It’s not so much the rules, I just genuinely believe people are out of the habit of going to speedway.

“Poole had a whole month (June) where they didn’t have a match at Wimborne Road – that’s crazy. You need more meetings in England, we can’t carry on like this. We need to restart British Speedway, there need to be more teams in the top league.

“Whether we look at regular Wednesday and Thursday meetings I don’t know, but one or two race nights would be ideal. We need to thrash it out.’’

The Robins chief has already been a critic of the fast track reserve system, which allows reserves to move both up and down from the main body of Elite League teams, according to fluctuating averages.

Ford has floated the idea of squads of up to 10 riders for clubs to choose from during the course of a campaign, potentially re-opening the door for the sport’s bigger stars, already juggling other European league and Grand Prix commitments, to take part in some meetings.

Rossiter added: “A squad system is fine as long as it is fair for everybody. There has got to be a structure that’s there that doesn’t just appease the top guys.

“We can’t make it that the top teams are the only ones with the top riders. You see that the likes of Leicester have struggled to get an out-and-out number one and it’s got to be fair to everybody.

“In speedway, you can’t have a Manchester United of the sport. Poole have done well, bought well and raised assets well, but it (a squad system) got to be fair to everybody.’’ He added: “Or you either go back, rebrand the sport in this country and make new stars.

“The top guys have got enough meetings with Grands Prix and Poland and Sweden and don’t want to come back. But if they can’t commit (to British Speedway), we have to be bold and brave and build new stars.

“It’s all right for the top boys, they are riding elsewhere, but some of the (other) riders are not getting enough meetings. Someone like (Robins rider) Justin Sedgmen is not getting enough meetings and even the top Premier League clubs are moaning that they haven’t got enough meetings and there are 13/14 teams in that division.”

Rossiter reckons reconnecting with the sport’s fanbase is a crucial factor for its future in Britain.

“When there is chopping and changing, people can’t get affinity with riders,’’ he said. “People know someone like (Robins’) Nick Morris as an up and coming young rider and he has been pretty loyal to Swindon.

“And at Swindon, barring this season really, we have had a bit of continuity, but it’s not the same elsewhere.’’