BURNETT SIGNS ON THE DOTTED LINE AS STOKE COMPLETE SIDE

Speedway

STOKE Potters have completed their septet for the 2019 campaign with the signing of the popular Yorkshireman Paul Burnett. Burnett returns to Loomer Road for a fourth successive season - and is the final piece in a highly-promising line-up for the National League campaign. New team manager Adam Isherwood, who has taken over from the departed Malcolm Vasey, said: “Paul is Mr Dependable and will go into the side at number two - a position he did well in during the early part of last season. “We know he is more than capable of doing a good job for us. “Paul is quiet, but gets on with his job effectively and completes what we believe is a strong and balanced team throughout. “And with the youngsters at the bottom of the team he will help with the stability at the lower end of the side which is just as important as the top end of the side as we’ve seen so often against us. I’m delighted he’s back with us in 2019 as I know our supporters will be as he has become a firm fans’ favourite.” Burnett joins the Potters on a 3.69 average putting the side close to the 36-point limit teams have to build to with the team coming to 35.94. Promoter Dave Tattum said: “I’m delighted to have the team all in place and ready for the new season before Christmas, which hasn’t happened very often before for us. “There is a great buzz around the place and supporters are pleased with the team we have put together and everyone would love the season to start now. “We couldn’t get much closer to the 36-point limit either being just 0.06 off and we all feel that we have the right balance in the team and that everyone is capable of adding to their starting average.” Tom Perry, Luke Chessell, Connor Coles, Luke Priest, Joe Alcock and Corban Pavitt complete the new-look line-up for the Potters. Only Burnett and Alcock raced in their colours last season. Stoke will head in to the new campaign buoyed by how their season ended this time around. A tough season looked on the cards, but they rallied towards the end of the fixtures and finished with three wins from their final four meetings. Max Clegg was the star man for Stoke in the closing stages as he banked four successive maximums to help the Potters to those victories.