SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter admits this evening’s visit to Lakeside will be a ‘very hard occasion’ for everyone at the Arena-Essex Raceway.

The Elite League meeting will take place under a cloud following the death of Lee Richardson, the former Swindon and Lakeside rider who was hugely popular at both clubs.

Richardson died following an on-track crash in Poland on Sunday, and there has been a huge outpouring of emotion in the speedway community ever since.

Rossiter said: “It’s going to be a very hard occasion for everybody. It’s going to be a sombre occasion and we will pay our respects.

“It’s amazing how everyone has come together since it happened. It just goes to show that when you’re on track the rivalry is immense, but when people come together off-track it’s fantastic.”

Great Britain international Richardson will be honoured in a number of different ways at Purfleet tonight.

At 7.45pm, riders and club officials will convene on the centre green and words of tribute will be said by either Lakeside co-promoter Jon Cook or the club’s stadium announcer.

There will also be a minute’s silence followed by an applause to celebrate the life of the much-loved former Blunsdon charger.

The club have set aside an area for floral tributes and a book of remembrance has been laid on for supporters to write messages in. The book will be given to the family at a later stage.

Fans can also make donations to the fund that has been set up to support Richardson’s family.

Lakeside promoter Jon Cook estimated that his club attracts an average gate of between 1,200 and 1,400, and wants to see that figure enlarged tonight.

Swindon typically take around 100 supporters to Lakeside, and Cook said: “I hope to see even more people there than usual but it’s for people to make their own choice on whether they feel able to come or not.

“It’s going to be a difficult day but one that we hope as many people as possible will make, in order to pay their respects to Lee.”

Rossiter added that, although the occasion would be sombre, his septet needed to concentrate on continuing their excellent start to the season and taking Elite League points back to Wiltshire.

He said: “As hard as it’s going to be, we need to get back into focus because we are there to do a job.

“It will be probably one of the hardest things we have to do, but we will have to get on with it.”

Rossiter has been forced into a change at reserve as Swindon have lost the facility for doubling-up man Robin Aspegren until he finds a Premier League club.

Rye House man Anders Mellgren will take his place as Kenny Ingalls is riding for Workington. Ingalls is also racing for Workington on Saturday so Kyle Newman will come in for Swindon’s trip to Eastbourne.

Meanwhile, Swindon skipper Hans Andersen is in contention following the first leg of the Danish Final in Holsted on Wednesday.

Triple world champion Nicki Pedersen holds the advantage on 14 points, with Niels Kristian Iversen second on 12 and Andersen and Michael Jepsen Jensen both on 11. Robins reserve Peter Kildemand is back on eight points.

All riders will carry their points into the decider at Outrup on August 17.