NEIL Middleditch has told national speedway chiefs that he is happy to continue as Great Britain team manager.

The Poole RIAS boss hinted in July that he might stand down from a role he has carried out for five years because of a lack of talent coming through the ranks.

But "after a long hard think about it" Middleditch has stressed he will carry on if the British promoters feel he is still the top man for the job.

Middleditch met with British Speedway Promoters' Association management committee members Peter Toogood, Chris Van Straa-ten and Neil Machin in Rugby yesterday to discuss the situation.

Talking exclusively to the Echo, Middleditch said: "My name is up in the frame again and I'm happy to continue.

"But people have to understand I can only do what I can do with the riders available to me.

"I had a long chat with them to try and see what the future of Team GB would be. But the World Cup is the barometer that you will always be judged on and over the last few years I feel we have achieved what we could with the riders we've got.

"I said to the committee if they feel there is someone else who can step in and bring some more youngsters through then I would step aside.

"Everyone realises that there will be a few years until the Academy and Conference boys start breaking through to top international level because there are not a great deal of young riders coming through the Elite League at the moment.

"You only have Oliver Allen racing full time in the top flight and William Lawson, Daniel King, James Wright, Edward Kennett, Richard Hall and a few others showing good form.

"The good thing is we have a youth policy in place now, although people have to be patient and allow riders to progress."

Middleditch added: "Since I said I might step down, I have had so many people telling me not to do that which is nice."

The Team GB post will be discussed again by all the promoters at the BSPA conference in November when a final decision is expected to be made.

Middleditch, meanwhile, has stressed he will be continuing as Pirates team manager next year, despite their worst league finish since he took over from Neil Street as boss in 1999.

"They will have to drag me away from that job kicking and screaming," said Middleditch, who has been as frustrated as the club's fans over Poole's slip down the table.