SWINDON Robins team manager Alun Rossiter admits his side have had to make compromises in their fixture list this season to compensate for their new stadium.

With work still ongoing on the new stadium, Swindon begin their season with a home meeting against Belle Vue Aces, who have had their share of problems during the closed season, on Thursday, April 6.

Two days later, the Robins will travel to top-flight newcomers Rye House in the first round of the new Knockout Cup competition, with the return leg at Blunsdon on Thursday, April 13.

In the past, the Robins have kicked off with a double-header against Poole Pirates, but this season won’t face Matt Ford until Easter Sunday (April 16), and are set to travel to reigning champions Wolverhampton Wolves on Monday, May 22.

“Traditionally we have had Poole but I think we have gone a different route,” said Rossiter, who would have liked to have seen more consistency to the fixture list.

“I think Poole wanted to do something different, we have done it for the last few years, and with Somerset coming up, it probably appealed to them for the first meeting.

“You’ve got to bear in mind that we are working around the new stadium development for our fixtures.

“It wouldn’t have been the way we would have planned the fixtures but we have got to work around the build.

“Whoever you start with is going to be tough so it will be a good test to see where we are as a team and when you race against one of the best sides, it is a good way to judge.

“The fixture list is a bit sporadic and, me personally, I don’t feel that comfortable with it.

“It’s always been a bug bear of mine to get meetings on and get them in, the gaps in between meetings isn’t great but we are working on getting a new stadium built so it is going to be difficult.”

Meanwhile, the fixtures away to Coventry Bees are yet to be confirmed with the Midlands-based club currently homeless with no agreement in place to race at Brandon and the deadline for a solution passing last weekend.

“I think they have got some big problems there,” added Rossiter. “I don’t know the full facts so it is difficult to say but, from the outside looking in, I don’t think it looks rosy at all.

“I had a good couple of years there, we won the league, and it would be a shame to see the stadium shut down.

“They did have an extra three years but there has been a lot of political stuff over the winter that we could have done without.

“We all need to know where we are going so they need to make a decision quickly so everyone can get on with their business.”

Robins’ trip to Leicester Lions, as well as home meetings with Coventry and King’s Lynn Stars are also to be arranged.