Speedway: Aussie star Travis McGowan can bring success back to Glasgow Tigers, says boss

Feb 11 2010 By Fraser Wilson

Travis McGowan

Exclusive

TRAVIS McGOWAN has been tipped to fill the considerable boots of Glasgow Tigers legend Shane Parker and lead the club to a top half finish this season.

Aussie McGowan, pictured, has been recruited from Swindon as a straight replacement for Parker who broke all sorts of records in a glittering six year spell with the Ashfield men.

Joining McGowan in the seven-man line-up this year are newboys Robert Ksiezak - in his second stint in Possil - and Jamie Courtney as well as last season's regulars James Grieves, Josh Grajczonek, Lee Dicken and Mitchell Davey.

And Tigers boss Stewart Dickson reckons the injection of fresh blood can propel the club onto a top six finish - no mean feat in comparison to recent seasons.

The Tigers have finished second bottom of the Premier League pile in the last two years but Maxwell told the Glaswegian: "I think top half of the league is something we should be aiming at given the team we have put together.

"I think the supporters deserve a wee bit of success and it would be nice to see us up in the top half.

"We have brought in Travis McGowan and he brings a wealth of experience from riding in the Elite League. He is a very fast starter which I think will suit him round here and he is a good team man.

"Hopefully what he knows and what he has learned in the top league Travis can bring here. We expect he will be one of the top men in the division and hopefully that will spread throughout the rest of the team.

"I think Shane Parker will be a big loss although last season he was not quite the scoring machine he was in his first five years.

"I think McGowan will have the same fresh approach which Shane had when he first arrived."

Watch our exclusive video interview with Tigers boss Stewart Dickson here.