SWINDON ROBINS have signed England captain Scott Nicholls to replace retired legend Leigh Adams as their No.1 rider for the 2011 Sky Sports Elite League season.

The arrival of the popular Nicholls should convince fans that the Robins management are as determined as ever to end the 43-year drought since the club last won the top domestic league.

And their chance has been made considerably easier by the shock news that the champions Coventry Bees and Peterborough Panthers, two of the richest clubs, have withdrawn from the Elite League.

They complete the number of drop-outs to three following the decision of cash-strapped Ipswich Witches to demote themselves to the second tier (Premier League) of the sport following the AGM of the British Speedways’ Promoters Association.

Kings Lynn Stars and Birmingham Brummies have taken the plunge to move up to the Elite League which now numbers eight instead of the previous nine.

The decisions by Coventry and Peterborough mean that their respective top riders Kenneth Bjerre and Chris Harris are currently without Elite League rides in 2011, while former Robins boss Alun Rossiter does not get the chance to defend his first league title win. In the genteel surroundings of Bournemouth on November 18, the meeting of the high-rollers in speedway ended in bitterness and acrimony over proposed changes to the team building rules.

Amid the anarchy, Robins boss Ronnie Russell was delighted to be able to pass on some good news to the Blunsdon faithful who had to endure a lacklustre campaign from their team in 2010.

Nicholls rode as guest for Swindon in their final league fixture of last season when Adams was unavailable. But Russell insists the deal to bring five-time British champion Nicholls to Swindon was only done in the aftermath of Ipswich’s self-imposed exile from the Elite League. Nicholls rode for the Witches in 2010 and was expected to continue in their colours next season.

“Scott told me he was looking for a fresh challenge and asked me to bear him in mind when we were addressing the difficult job of replacing Leigh,” said Russell.

“He is relishing the opportunity of riding for Swindon and we are relishing the opportunity of working with him.

“He finished fourth in the Elite League averages last season behind only Freddie Lindgren, Leigh and Bjerre.

“Swindon fans are used to having an out-and-out No.1 and that is still the case with Scott.

“He will continue to ride in Poland and Sweden, but he will not be involved in the Grand Prix series. We have first call on his services and he is totally committed to us.”

Russell and co-promoter Gary Patchett returned from Promoter’s AGM devastated by some of the decisions.

“Poole, Peterborough, Coventry and ourselves all wanted the team points averages raised to 45 and we would have accepted a compromise of 42.5,” said Russell.

“But in a very volatile atmosphere – the worst at an AGM I have ever attended in more than 20 years – the vote went for 40 points which is only marginally more than the 39.5 we started with last season.

“Attendances dropped markedly in 2010 and we at Swindon made an operating loss of £154,000.

“One of the problems was the inability to accommodate Grand Prix riders in the points structure. It is a nightmare. The system is broken and it needed fixing.

“However, we could have spat our dummy out of the pram but we didn’t.

“There is still the possibility of an olive branch being extended before the AGM reconvenes next Tuesday.

“But, at 40 points, I have had to go back to the drawing board in my team building.

“Scott and our new captain Simon Stead are in place and I am trying hard to incorporate the three young riders who did so well for us at various stages last season – Grzegorz Zengota, Thomas H Jonasson and Maciek Janowski.

“It is our intention to announce the whole team at the fans’ forum on December 16.” In addition to his duties as team boss and track curator, Russell is also to take over as Swindon’s commercial manager for the 2011 season.

2011 Sky Sports Elite League line-up: Belle Vue Aces, Birmingham Brummies, Eastbourne Eagles, King’s Lynn Stars, Lakeside Hammers, Poole Pirates, Swindon Robins, Wolverhampton Wolves.