So, tonight is the night when the season kicks off... for real this time!
We sat down with the new man at the helm, player/coach Stevie Lyle to find out what he was thinking when he built the new look Swindon Wildcats.
S.W.S.C: So Stevie, in terms of putting the team together, what was going through your mind, which player was going to be the game changer?
Stevie Lyle: There are a couple really, in the challenge games they were just getting going but the two new signings Sami Ryhanen and Miroslav Zalesak were big. And Corey McKewen was a big signing, lots of teams were after him. I decided when I started out I wanted to do things my way, whether they'll be right or wrong we'll soon find out. I thought some freshness would be good! The hardest thing was, some friends of mine, people like Jonas (Hoog) and Moorsey (Shane Moore), it's hard but I hope we will be a better team for it.
S.W.S.C: Did you have a vision to start with of what your team would look like? How did the building of other teams effect your decisions?
Stevie Lyle: To be honest it changes; probably changes every week. You can't really decide a team on what others are doing, you have to decide your own team. Maybe start out with a defensive team one week and that doesn't work because guys sign other places, so you sign some other players. And I eventually got there and, I was happy, because it worked out that I actually got better players than those I had wanted at the start.
S.W.S.C: Did you have many disappointments along the way?
Stevie Lyle: Well I can't call them disappointments really, you know for players, as a player you've got an idea of where you want to play and how much money you want to make. And that's what happens really; you talk to agents, they say yeah the player's coming, two days laters you see on Elite Prospects they have signed in Italy, and you think 'oh, okay' (laughs).
S.W.S.C: The main question we are hearing from the fans with regard to yourself, is where do you see yourself fitting in as a player. Will you be on the bench more; where does Jordan Hedley fit in your plan?
Stevie Lyle: I brought Jordan here because I think he will do well; I want him to do well. If I think he is playing better than me then he will be out there. I don't want to hold him back. There are only so many years, might be this year, you never know until I'm finished. So it's literally just getting another guy ready to take over.
I've known him (Jordan) a few years now, been lucky enough to teach him throughout the summer sometimes. So I know his ability. he has also had some experience in the GB set-up.
S.W.S.C: It's been noted that the type of players you have brought in are 'bigger'.
Stevie Lyle: Yeah, size is going to go a long way. I want to play the same away as we do at home so, you know, we need bigger guys.
S.W.S.C: Will that lend to a feisty season then, do you think?
Stevie Lyle: Yeah, you know, every game we are going to be going out to win. There is going to be no going into Telford and all lines play defensive. We're good enough to win there.
S.W.S.C: We are not going to ask you where you think we are going to place just yet. Let's leave a little time to settle in ...
Stevie Lyle: We are just going to take every weekend as it comes and I will know by Christmas really.
S.W.S.C: On behalf of the fans Stevie, Good Luck for the coming season!
#loudandproud #swsc
