NEIL Middleditch quit as Team Great Britain boss and then endorsed two of the leading contenders for the job – Poole legends Alun Rossiter and Gary Havelock.

The Pirates manager put his two former Wimborne Road col-leagues, plus left-field choice Joe Screen, firmly in the frame to become his successor in the top role.

Ex-Poole captain Rossiter boasts an excellent CV having defeated Pirates to win Elite League titles with Coventry (2010) and current club Swindon (2012).

Coventry boss Havelock, the 1992 world champion, is relatively new to management after taking his first role in the top flight with the Bees last season.

GB assistant and under-21s boss Phil Morris, the Birmingham boss, is also among the candidates and has made no secret of his desire to step up.

However, Middleditch backed the credentials of Rossiter and Havelock and suggested there could also be a place for recently-retired Screen in any new regime – should he want it.

Middleditch told the Daily Echo: “I think Rosco (Rossiter) has always made it known that he would like to be in the frame. He has tasted success at Swindon and he gets on well with the boys.

“I have spoken to Gary Havelock who says he may be interested in a little while.

“Phil Morris is running the under-21s but I think, maybe, to run both full-time would probably be too much for him. You need to concentrate on one or the other and I don’t think you can really give both your full attention.”

Middleditch continued: “You would like to think that Rosco would put himself forward.

“Havvy would be very good. He only stopped riding recently so he is still very much on terms with all the boys and young lads as well. He would be a very good choice for it. I think him or Rosco would probably be my two picks.”

Middleditch also said the potential of appointing joint-managers could be explored, with close friends Havelock and Screen a possible double act.

He said: “Sometimes, it is good to have another head to bounce ideas off. As a joint venture, it is quite a good thing.

“I don’t know whether Joe Screen might be up for the job. He is great friends with Havvy and, maybe, those two. He might even be a candidate. Any of those three (Rossiter, Havelock, Screen) would be a good choice.”

Middleditch came within a single point of World Cup glory in 2004 during his first tenure and after standing down in February 2008, he was re-appointed in 2011.

His second spell ended with the Brits finishing last in this year’s World Cup race-off, trailing Australia, the USA and Latvia.

Middleditch warned the newcomer they would be facing an extremely difficult task.

He added: “It is a tough job and, maybe, a new broom sweeps clean. Tai Woffinden winning the world championship is a huge boost for British speedway but he can’t win a World Cup on his own.”