ANGRY Alun Rossiter has hit back at criticism of his team selection policy, insisting he is doing everything in his power to restore the glory days to Blunsdon.

The Robins boss, pictured above, has come under fire from some supporters for persevering with the misfiring Travis McGowan, but Rossiter insists he always had the best interests of the team at heart.

McGowan has been axed ahead of tonight’s Elite League meeting with Wolverhampton, with Swede Seb Alden returning, and Rosco hopes the change will put an end to the dissenting voices in the crowd.

He said: “It’s very frustrating when you hear comments from people saying why didn’t you make the change sooner.

“Travis had not been scoring well lately, but before that he had been scoring just as well as Seb, and from the main body of the team too.

“Do they really think a club of Swindon’s size would just sit there if there was a ready-made replacement?

“We have just signed the most sought-after rider in the league in Jurica Pavlic. Surely that shows our ambition.

“I have to stress it is only a minority of fans, but it is still frustrating.

“I’ve had emails and at the recent sidecar meeting one fan came up to me and said ‘what are you going to do about this crap team?’ “I said is that the same crap team that’s already qualified for the play-offs?”

“This is not just me blowing steam, it’s just got to a point when I have been infuriated by what’s going on.”

Rossiter has also rubbished suggestions he kept McGowan at the Abbey Stadium for “sentimental reasons”.

He said: “I was so gutted for Travis. We spent a lot of time on him and he also spent an absolute fortune trying to put things right.

“I’ve heard people say I only kept him on for sentiment. Well that is nonsense.

“All the riders are my friends, but once they get on the bike it is down to business.

“I think there are some people who want to have a pop just for the sake of it. They are not happy unless they are moaning.”

Tonight’s clash with basement side Wolverhampton is the last at home during the regular season, and could be the supporters’ final chance to see their heroes in 2008.

Rossiter, pictured left, accepts his side have underperformed in recent weeks, but has called on the fans to show a united front ahead of the Elite League play-offs.

He said: “People pay their money and they are entitled to say what they want, but I just think do some of them live in the real world?

“If people have a genuine gripe then fine. I accept we have not delivered when it has mattered these last few weeks, but we are still in the play-offs.

“You’ve got good people like Terry Russell and Gary Patchett working incredibly hard behind the scenes to make things happen here.

“We need everyone to stick together now and really get behind the riders.”