THE missing Swindon Advertiser Team of the Year trophy may not yet be back with the Robins, but team boss Alun Rossiter is closing in on the stolen silverware, Following their most successful season in nearly 40 years, Swindon's speedway side were awarded the trophy at the end of last year and it took pride of place in Rossiter's New Inn pub in Stratton.

However, while the landlord was on a family holiday in Florida, some light-fingered customers made away with the award, and Rosco returned to find his trophy gone and a ransom note in its place.

More than a week after it was taken, the Robins manager admits he has a pretty good idea who was guilty of the crime, but is still waiting for its return.

He revealed: "I've been back from holiday a while now and I still haven't got it back.

"I keep hearing a few different stories about where it is. There's a bit of bad feeling towards us from a team who won it in recent years.

"I thought that if a certain rugby club has it, they would have had the decency by now to have brought it back.

"I won't go over there and get it, but I'll give them a call and see if they're willing to return it."

Since running the original story last week, the Advertiser's sports desk has been inundated with phone calls, all with a different spin on the trophy's whereabouts.

From dog walkers stumbling across the silverware to secret liaisons in a park, they have all led to claims that it is being kept safe' at neighbouring Swindon Rugby Club, the previous winners.

"I've been getting lots of stick about it from regulars and other people coming into the pub," Rossiter admitted.

"Everyone's making little comments to wind me up by saying things like still not found your trophy yet?!' "Other people have seen the sinister side of it, but I'm trying to keep a keep a straight face as someone's done it for the craic.

"When I first saw the ransom note I was a little bit worried, but then I had a bit of a chuckle when I read it.

"A couple of the Swindon rugby players are regulars, and they've been coming in with smirks on their faces ever since the trophy went missing.

"Although my main culprit is an old regular of mine from my old pub - the Wheatsheaf - who is involved at the rugby club. I've got my eyes on him.

"I'm definitely not convinced by some of the stories that have come out."