ALUN Rossiter has backed Troy Batchelor to make big strides both on and off the track after appointing the Aussie as his captain for 2014.

The 26-year-old, who has today been revealed by the Advertiser as the club’s second top-five signing of the winter, will replace Hans Andersen as the Robins skipper after agreeing to return to the club for a third-straight season.

Rossiter was given permission to talk to Peterborough asset Batchelor long before the sport’s AGM, where the Panthers then resigned from the Elite League, and the Swindon team boss believes the Australian champion can continue to improve having won his maiden national title and made his Grand Prix debut during the last campaign.

“Troy has come on massively over the last couple of years and I firmly believe there’s more to come from him,” he said.

“It’s a massive benefit for himself to be back with us as well as Swindon Speedway.

“There’s more to come from him, I’m sure of that.

“He’s still hungry, he’s still learning and he’s still maturing. He wasn’t a hard choice to bring back.”

Batchelor captained the Robins on a number of occasions in the absence of Andersen, and also spent time working with reserve Ashley Birks as he struggled for form, all of which has led Rossiter to believe he is the perfect choice to skipper the side.

“With Hans gone now I had a choice to make over a captain for next season and Troy was the obvious choice for that,” he said.

“When he stood in for Hans last season he did a really good job and got the boys goings, and was the obvious choice for me.

“He takes responsibility and helps out riders, and he showed that by lending Ashley (Birks) an engine because he saw he needed help.

“With the youngsters coming into the side he will be a big help with them too.”