CO-OWNER Gary Patchett admits he is desperate to evade the ill-fortune that blighted Swindon’s Elite League campaign in 2011.

The Blunsdon side struggled with injuries and unavailability last term and endured a dreadful campaign as they finished rock-bottom of the standings.

And Patchett hopes it will be a different story this time.

He said: “Before the start of the season last year we were already ruing our luck because Zengi (Grzegorz Zengota) had broken his leg.

“I maintain that that team was never given the opportunity to show what it was capable of because they were never on the track together.

“You are super-reliant on Lady Luck. You’re team can be world-beaters on paper but riders run in and out of form and get hurt, and it’s on such things that teams are successful or not.

“We’ve been very close in two out of six seasons I’ve been involved here, and we certainly want to be involved in the shake-up at the end of the season.

“I don’t see any reason why we won’t be, provided we don’t have any bad luck.”

Patchett added that the return of Alun Rossiter as team boss had given him a boost personally as well as the club.

“We’ve got a fantastic team spirit here and I think that’s due in no small part to the fact Rosco’s back,” continued Patchett.

“That’s rekindled my enthusiasm for the sport because he is a good friend of mine and it did hurt when he left.

“He’s back here a better person and a better manager, and he’s proved for those that doubted him that he can deliver teams that win trophies.

“We bounce off each other and it’s a good partnership.”