PAUL FRY, who skippered Swindon speedway team last year, has been named as captain of the Somerset Rebels for 2004.

The vastly-experienced 39-year-old was Swindon's only ever-present last season, under Rebels' new co-promoter Pete Toogood and it had been expected that he might lead Somerset.

In reply to a question about the captaincy at Rebels' recent Open Forum, Toogood said that he would not go for Fry automatically, just because he had been captain for him in the past.

But announcing his appointment, Toogood said "After careful consideration of all the other riders, team manager Mick Bell and I really fell that he is the correct man for the job."

Full story in this week's Mercury sports pages.