TEAM Great Britain and Swindon Robins manager Alun Rossiter has praised Chris Harris’ professionalism following his shock forced departure from Peterborough Panthers’ line-up before a wheel had been turned.

Harris, who last season won the SGB Premiership crown with Poole Pirates after a mid-season switch following Rye House’s closure, was snapped up by the Panthers in early December after revealing he was never part of Pirates’ plans for 2019.

But following a management takeover at the start of this year, a financial review concluded in Harris’ axe from the East of England Showground before he had even step foot in the stadium.

The controversial sacking was met with fury by fans of both the Panthers and the sport in general.

GB legend Harris then released a statement before it was confirmed by Ipswich Witches that they had signed the no-nonsense 36-year-old.

And Rossiter praised the calmness of the Coventry-based racer, who will also ride for Somerset Rebels in the Championship next season.

Rossiter said: “Because of social media nowadays, people blow things up.

“My only feeling is that knowing Chris (Harris) on social media as I do, I think if it was a big issue then things would have exploded.

“But he published a very level statement out, and he is now in a job.

“It’s not ideal. One minute he’s ready to ride for one team and then the next he is off somewhere else.

“Sometimes things like that happen – I’m here to say that it’s right or wrong because I don’t know the full facts.

“Straight away, people will say that money is the issue. But I don’t think it is money personally.”

The Witches meanwhile have also landed the services of popular ex-Robin David Bellego.

Bellego joins Harris, Danny King, Jake Allen, Cameron Heeps, Richard Lawson and Krystian Pieszczek in the Ipswich squad following two seasons with the Robins.

“I’m pleased for David (Bellego), I think it will do him the world of good being involved at Ipswich,” said Rossiter.

“I know he is very keen to make sure his move there is a success.”