PHIL Bartlett expects to appoint a new team manager for the Weymouth Weyline Wildcats within a month and is locked in talks with “a big name in speedway”.

The Cats’ chairman and current caretaker-team manager took his injury-hit charges to the Plymouth Devils last night for their first fixture since Jem Dicken left the club.

But Bartlett is excited by the prospect of the man he is in talks with at the moment and hopes to announce a deal as soon as possible.

Bartlett said: “I’m in talks with a new team manager and if he agrees teams it would be absolutely fantastic and the feel-good factor would come back again.

“It would be brilliant for us as he is a big name in speedway and people would want to ride for this bloke – it would be a real coup.”

Meanwhile, Bartlett has praised those helping prepare the track for tonight’s Great Britain Under-15 meeting (7.15pm) after the departure of Dicken, who worked hard each week to get it ready in the past.

“People’s help has been well received,” said Bartlett. “They have mucked in at our time of need because Jem had done most of it himself.

“We got a lot of work done and had a good laugh and a joke and as soon as we get a full Weymouth team on the track then we will be looking to start winning some meetings.

“I’ve got to do the best for the paying public and I won’t rest until I have done that. The club is moving in the right direction and it feels positive.”

Weymouth mascot Anders Rowe will ride on his home track in the 125cc class during the second round of the Great Britain under-15 Championships at the Wessex Raceway tonight (7.15pm).

After the opening round at New-port, Robert Lambert leads the 250cc class, while last season’s 250cc champion Brandon Free-mantle is ahead in the 500cc class.

The winner in the 125cc class at Newport was 10-year old Kieran Vaughan from Gloucestershire and there are five rounds, including tonight’s 22-heat meeting, left to race in the championships.

Tonight’s line-up – 500cc: Brandon Freemantle, Cameron Hoskins, Adam Portwood, Adam Kirby, Tyler Govier.

250cc: Nathan Stoneman, Reece Downes, David Abraham, Jordan Hazelden, Nathan Greaves, Lee Cutler, Robert Lambert, Jack Jones.

125cc: Jack Collins, William O’Keefe, Kieran Vaughan, Anders Rowe, Kyle Bickley, Tom Brennen.

85cc demo: Joe Lawlor.