Rossiter gives Stead backing (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON ROBINS: Rossiter gives Stead backing

10:30am Monday 13th February 2012 in Speedway By Chris Butcher

SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter is backing Great Britain international Simon Stead to regain his best form for the Robins this season.

Stead endured a tough 2011 after suffering early-season injuries in Poland, and Rossiter has elected to transfer the club captaincy to newcomer Hans Andersen.

He said: “Simon is personally hugely popular, but critics point to poor away scoring.

"It doesn’t worry me, we can deal with the psychology of that.

"I know his ability and I know that he has ridden all of the tracks very well at one time or another.

“I have taken the pressure of the captaincy away from him because he needs to concentrate on himself. He can do that with much less pressure this year with Hans and Troy Batchelor on board, and I think with better support riders around him.”