IMPORT Nicolai Klindt has paid the price of a poor start to the Elite League with Swindon Robins showing the Dane the exit door.

And team manager Alun Rossiter has acted fast in bringing Australian youngster Dakota North to replace the Abbey Stadium number two.

Robins chief Rossiter, while admitting he was uncomfortable in dropping Klindt, he said that he had to act in the best interests of the team following two home defeats.

“I don’t like this part of the job, and to be honest I’m not comfortable with it either, but I had to act,” Rossiter told the Advertiser.

“Nicolai is lacking in confidence, and perhaps given time he might have improved, but that is something that I don’t have - I had to make this decision with the best interest of the team.

“He wasn’t happy when I gave him the news, understandably, and he will probably come back to haunt me down the road - they usually do.

“But my gut feeling was telling me that I had to make the change.”

Klindt leaves the Robins for a second time after spending the 2011 season at Blunsdon, where he was the club’s rider of the year, and he was brought back to the club looking to ressurrect a faltering career.

But five thirds, four fourths and one retirement in 19 races this term has ultimately cost him his place.

Rossiter is hoping that North, who spent some time with Birmingham Brummies in 2012, will be able to fit straight into the side as he already knows Nick Morris and Troy Batchelor.

“I’ve known about Dak for sometime,” Rossiter said. “I tried to sign him twice when I was at Coventry and I have tried to get him here is the past.

“He has had a pretty decent start to the season in Poland and he will give 100 per cent and I’m sure that he will improve on his current average.”

North is no stranger to the tracks in the UK have ridden for Mildenhall, Newcastle, Somerset, Peterborough, Ipswich King’s Lynn and Birmingham and he is also the son of former Stoke star Rod.