ALUN Rossiter is confident he can restore Swindon Robins to prominence at the top of British speedway after losing their SGB Premiership crown this season.

Exactly a year after they memorably lifted domestic speedway’s biggest prize, Swindon find themselves watching others do battle for glory after missing out on the end-of-season play-offs.

Poole Pirates will do battle with King’s Lynn Stars next week for the right to succeed the Abbey Stadium men as British speedway’s top dogs as the Swindon camp lick their wounds following a disappointing conclusion to their summer.

The glorious 2017 chapter brought an unprecedented 16-match winning run which propelled Rossiter’s men from supposed also-rans to Premiership champions, then-skipper Jason Doyle and Nick Morris bringing home the silverware in unforgettable fashion with a last-heat triumph at Wolverhampton Wanderers this time last year.

They also started this season in decent fashion, leading the table for a lengthy spell, but their assault was undermined by a damaging failure to pick up victories on the road - the Robins won just twice on their travels at then-struggling Poole and eventual basement boys Leicester in April - while they also slipped to costly home losses to Somerset and Belle Vue twice.

Rossiter admits his side’s fall from grace has been a tough pill to swallow for many, but his determination remains to get the club contesting for honours again next season.

“A month ago, we were top of the league and everything was rosy, but over the last month we have come crashing down with a massive bump,’’ said Rossiter.

“It is not nice, I don’t like it and I am sure the supporters don’t like it, but it is just one of those things.

“Everything happens for a reason and it wasn’t our year this year, it is as simple as that. There were better teams than us.’’

Club chairman Terry Russell has revealed that the Abbey Stadium track will be ripped up and remodelled this winter, with the club hoping the lengthy saga of the revamped stadium to go around it is nearing its conclusion and Rossiter hopes similar refreshment will take place in terms of the team.

“We just have to regroup and see what we can come back with,’’ he added.

“We try to set high standards and I get the backing from Terry and the club to do the job.

“Everyone can point the finger at me, but we win as a team and lose as a team.

“I am disappointed, but I am confident we will get back to where we should be and that we will be in the play-offs again next year.’’