CAPTAIN Chris Harris insisted the Great Britain riders will all back new national boss Alun Rossiter as he looks to revive the team’s fortunes.

Swindon Robins boss Rossiter was handed the top job on Wednesday after he was given the nod ahead of former Birmingham manager Phil Morris and is now charged with helping the national team improve on recent poor showings in the World Cup.

Harris knows Rossiter well, having been part of the 48-year-old’s Elite League-winning Coventry side in 2010, and would love to be handed the chance to carry on as GB skipper under the new regime, as well as firmly believing the Blunsdon boss is someone the country’s riders will get behind.

“Whoever got the job out of Rosco and Phil would have done a really good job, but I’ve worked with Alun before at Coventry and he’s helped me in the Grand Prix so I know he will do a good job,” Harris told the Advertiser.

“He’s a passionate guy and wears his heart on his sleeve and that can only be a good thing for Great Britain because you need to be proud to ride for your country as well as manage it.

“If you’re not passionate about your country you shouldn’t be there and I love to represent my country and have a lot of pride at being captain.

“I would love to carry on doing that this year and hopefully Rosco agrees and has me in his plans for that. That’s all down to him thought and we’ll wait and see.

“Whatever decision he makes the riders will get behind him and support him because you can’t not like Rosco.

“He loves his speedway and loves his country and I know the other boys feel the same.”

Harris returns to the Grand Prix series this year following a year-long absence and is hopeful his return to the sport’s elite can help Rossiter in his new role as GB boss.

“It’s great to be back in the Grand Prix but I have a lot to prove, not really to anyone else but mainly to myself,” he said.

“I’m still hungry and I want to compete with the best riders in the world and if I’m doing that it can only help Team GB too.”