Batchelor tells Robins to forget it!

TROY Batchelor has been put up for sale by Swindon, with Robins boss Alun Rossiter claiming: “We don't want someone who doesn't want to ride for us.”

The Aussie, who spent the majority of last season on loan, has had his request to spend another season away from Blunsdon turned down by Robins' management.

And now Peterborough are believed to be leading a three-club chase for the Queenslander, who had initially voiced his intent to return to the Abbey Stadium in 2010 following his spell with Ipswich last term.

Batchelor's change of heart came as a disappointment to Rossiter, who insisted that snapping up the 22-year-old had been his top priority, behind sealing the signature of skipper Leigh Adams.

“Apart from Leigh, Troy was always going to be on our cards,” insisted Rossiter.

“We wanted him for next season and we looked at him as a rider that was going forwards.

“He has gone from a 5.7 average to a 6.7 average and we felt he could progress to over eight next year.

“It made it a lot harder (to decide on a line-up) because we didn't envisage there being a problem. We planned for him to spearhead the team with Leigh.

“I'm disappointed because I kept in contact with him all last season when he was out on loan with Ipswich, and everything seemed fine. Then all of a sudden he doesn't want to ride for you.”

The Swindon chief believes the youngster is still hurting from the episode that saw him fail to regain his place, after he broke his wrist in mid-May.

Batchelor suffered the injury in a crash against Wolverhampton at the Abbey and Rossiter believes that his replacement, Matej Zagar, made himself un-droppable with a series of spectacular performances, resulting in the Aussie switching to the Witches on loan.

“I think he's still smarting from being dropped, but if he hadn't crashed he wouldn't have got dropped.” said Rossiter.