PANTHERS co-boss Trevor Swales is backing Olly Allen to play a vital part in the club’s 2012 Elite League challenge.

PANTHERS co-boss Trevor Swales is backing Olly Allen to play a vital part in the club’s 2012 Elite League challenge.

The Norfolk-based rider started his career at the Showground as part of the successful Conference and Premier League teams of 1997 and 1998, and also had a spell with the Panthers as a doubling-up rider in the top flight in 2002.

His recent Elite League seasons have been spent with parent club Coventry (2006-09) and King’s Lynn last year, although he had been very much in the Panthers thoughts twelve months ago before signing on at the Norfolk Arena.

Having joined the Stars, he guested for Peterborough in the opening Hokey-Cokey Cup challenges against Coventry, scoring paid-ten from four rides at home, and he also produced solid results when King’s Lynn visited in the Elite League.

Swales said: “I was at the Showground with Peter Oakes when Olly was here as a young lad, and it’s terrific for him to come back here.

“He showed us a taste of what he can do when he guested for us twice at the start of the season, and then when racing for King’s Lynn.

“I’m sure Olly will go forward and really grab this chance we’ve given him with both hands, and hopefully he’ll have a really good season.”