There's no going back (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON ROBINS: There's no going back

6:00am Saturday 1st December 2012 in Local By Andy Warren

TITLE-WINNER Troy Batchelor is ready to shun the advances of parent club Peterborough to seal a return to the Swindon Robins side for 2013.

The Australian played a vital role as Alun Rossiter’s side stormed to the Elite League title, and understandably the Robins boss is keen to keep the bulk of last season’s side together, with Peter Kildemand and Nick Morris already signed up for next year.

Batchelor is still very much in the Robins’ plans for the new campaign, although the Advertiser understands he has already been told by the Panthers management that he is under consideration for a team place at the East of England Showground next season.

The 25-year-old was not happy with the way he was treated by his parent club last winter, only finding out he was not in their plans when the entire team was made public, and wants a return to the Robins as he searches for some much-needed stability in British speedway.

“We all had a good year at Swindon, so I don’t think anyone really wants to change too much if it has been working,” he told the Advertiser.

“It would be nice to have a bit of stability for once and stay with the same club, because I think I have pretty much been with half the clubs in the Elite League.

“It would be nice to stay somewhere, get some stability, and get a good routine going somewhere you can base yourself instead of starting again every year.

“It doesn’t really matter if Peterborough want me back if I don’t want to go back, it is up to me and I wouldn’t ride somewhere I didn’t want to ride.

“I don’t particularly want to go back there, especially after the way they treated me.

“Everyone got on well at Swindon including the team management and the riders, and that is very important because it is good to enjoy being at work.

“If you go to your job and you are happy you want to do better, but if you are not then maybe you will not give it everything you have got.”

Batchelor is also keen to see skipper and close friend Hans Andersen return to Blunsdon next season, with the pair also signed to ride together for Swedish club Vastervik.

“We had a lot of fun at Swindon with Hans and Peter there too, and everyone seemed to enjoy it and want to come back.

“It would be nice if Hans and I were back together because it would make things a lot easier with travel and what-not.

“If we were on a Monday night on Sky then we would travel together then fly out to Sweden together which is nice, and can make spirit even better.”