Peterborough Panthers to accelerate their 2021 team-building plans and they have an eye on Swindon riders

The annual general meeting of Premiership and Championship bosses scheduled for last week was postponed and will now take place today (Thursday).

It’s looking like a six-team Premiership including Panthers following the decision of Swindon to take a year off while they construct a new stadium.

Panthers chiefs could well have an eye on the sudden availability of Swindon riders given they have lost Aussie ace Rohan Tungate and are likely to lose Grand Prix star Neils Kristian Iversen because of rules restricting riders who race in the lucrative Polish League from taking part in other domestic competitions.

Former King’s Lynn boss Dale Allitt is helping the club on an advisory basis and is confident Panthers will be competitive.

Allitt said: “The calculator has been on the table 24/7 as various permutations have been worked out. Whatever happens at the AGM I am confident Peterborough will have a side more than capable of challenging for the top four.

“We all know about the absence of Rohan Tungate and obviously as things stand it’s unlikely we’ll be seeing Niels-Kristian Iversen.

“But once the team building regulations are rubber stamped we will follow up our interest in riders and reach the best possible outcome for the team.

“We can only wish Swindon well and hope to see them back in 2022 in their new stadium. It’s disappointing for the sport, but with no fans allowed there during construction work they were left with little choice.

“I hope the Swindon riders are fixed up elsewhere and their availability was noted by Peterborough very quickly.”

Belle Vue, Ipswich, King’s Lynn, Sheffield and Wolverhampton are the teams currently expected to race against Panthers in the 2021 SGB Premiership.