SWINDON boss Alun Rossiter has swooped to bring British rider Edward Kennett to Blunsdon for the Robins’ Elite League title defence, the Advertiser can exclusively reveal.

The 26-year-old has spent the last three seasons with the Coventry, and like the majority of the Bees side he endured a difficult 2012 as his average slipped from 7.84 to 6.25.

Kennett joins assets Nick Morris and Peter Kildemand in the main body of the Robins team for 2013, and with the club still keen to bring back Hans Andersen and Troy Batchelor they would arguably have the strongest top five in the top flight.

Rossiter knows the Hastings-born man well after the pair won the title together at Brandon in 2010, and is convinced Kennett can get back to his best as he makes a much-needed fresh start.

“I think we are getting a very good rider, that is for sure,” he said.

“I know some people say that there is a bit of scepticism there, but I know what I am getting and it is as simple as that.

“We are getting a rider who is going to improve his average, and in a similar way to Steady (Simon Stead), I believe he is going to have a great year because he has a fresh challenge.

“He has been at Coventry for quite a while and for some strange reason he doesn’t want to ride there, and I don’t think it is anything to do with money, but more that he is just stuck in a bit of a rut.

“He needs to get away, and I think I can get the best out of him because I know how he works and what makes him go.”

Rossiter believes Kennett will quickly make an impression at Blunsdon, but insisted the Brit would also add something to his side away from home.

“I know what he can do, especially what he will bring to us on the away tracks like Lakeside or Eastbourne, or Belle Vue and Wolverhampton,” he said.

“When I spoke to him he was keen to come, and once he got permission from Coventry to speak to other clubs I was on the case.

“Edward is one of those people who if he is not happy you will get a rider who doesn’t perform, and I think that is a little bit of his problem at the moment, he is not happy.

“It is nothing to do with the promotion at Coventry or money or anything like that, it is just more that he is in that rut and needs a fresh challenge which I think Swindon will be for him.

“He could have taken it easy and gone back to somewhere like Eastbourne, but he didn’t and Swindon is a great place for him.”