SWINDON are licking their wounds after a 62-30 thumping by Belle Vue on Monday… but hopes are high that their troubles will soon be over.

Robins were handed start permission for Polish duo Maciek Janowski and Tomasz Chrzanowski just before 5pm, but they were then dealt a double blow in Manchester.

New number one Scott Nicholls was stuck in traffic and failed to get anywhere near Kirkmanshulme Lane and skipper Simon Stead was withdrawn from the meeting at his former club on medical grounds.

It was no surprise, then, when the Aces romped to a comfortable win with guest James Wright top scoring for the Blunsdon boys on 8.

Nicholls and Stead will return to the side for Wednesday’s trip to King’s Lynn and start permission from the Polish federation is expected to be made permanent for the season in time for the meeting.

The club are also hopeful of introducing a signing to replace the injured Grzegorz Zengota in time for their home clash with Lakeside on Thursday.

Said co-owner Gary Patchett: “It never rains, it pours. We were handed start permission very late on Monday for the Polish boys but then it became clear Scott wouldn’t make it and Simon wasn’t fit to ride.

“We remain hopeful that we will be tracking a full seven-man team, if not at King’s Lynn then certainly for our first home meeting on Thursday.

“We have been through all sorts of emotions and our thanks go to Belle Vue for agreeing to delay the start to give us a chance to get the strongest possible team on track.

“Now we must look forward rather than back and things will only get better for us.”

BELLE VUE 62: Chris Harris 13+2, Rory Schlein 13+2, Patrick Hougaard 11, Craig Cooke 9+1, Charlie Gjedde 7+1, Tomasz Piszcz 6+1, Ricky Kling 3+1.

SWINDON 30: James Wright 8, Maciek Janowski 8, Tomasz Chrzanowski 6, Justin Sedgmen 4+1, Cory Gathercole 4, Scott Nicholls DNR, Simon Stead R/R.