The man backing Eastbourne Eagles’ new era wants to serve up even more excitement for fans at Arlington next season.

And he reckons last term’s treble-winners will have the team with which to do it.

Paul Goldsmith is eyeing off-track improvements to the Arlington set-up after signing his company IT First up for a second season as main sponsors.

But much could hinge on how well Eastbourne start the season in what will be a 12-team National League following decisions taken at the annual meeting on Wednesday.

IT First were Albion’s main sponsors when they won League One and made a smooth transition to the Amex in 2011.

Goldsmith got on board with Eastbourne when they moved into the third tier this time last year and helped them effectively relaunch the club.

He said: “In the early days with Eastbourne, there was an awful lot of learning about what they do and how they do things.

“It was very much run as a hobby and not as a business. We tried to change that and to improve the fan experience. I think we have gone some way towards doing that.

“We’ve got lots more plans but a lot depends on how well the team start next season. Then hopefully we will get out there and drag as many people through the doors as we can.”

The Argus:

Eastbourne want to build their fanbase

Eagles have confirmed only three members of the team who won a knockout treble last year will be back.

Georgie Wood and Ben Hopwood have already re-signed while Kelsey Dugard is heading to another National League track.

Bradley Wilson-Dean seems certain to move into the Premier League, leaving one of Marc Owen, Daniel Spiller and Richard Andrews to return.

Spiller has academic commitments in Germany in the first half of the season which could affect his chances of coming back for the beginning of the campaign.

Whoever ends up in the blue and yellow, tech-savvy Goldsmith will urge them to communicate with fans via social media.

While some sports teams would rather their stars stay off Twitter and Facebook, Eastbourne encourage such activity – within guidelines.

Goldsmith, pictured, said: “If they don’t engage with the public, then people won’t embrace what they are trying to do.

“We have tried to get riders on social media to talk to the fans, have time for the fans, blog fans with how they are doing, their injuries and this and that.

“We have asked them to have photos taken with fans, just create a togetherness that wasn’t there before.”

Although financial details of the new deal are confidential, Goldsmith admits he ended up putting in more money than planned last season.

The lifelong Eagles fan said: “Along the way, we invested in different bits of machinery, helmets, additional racesuits and bits and pieces like that.

“I also do a lot of personal sponsorship with (young rider) Tom Brennan.”

Eastbourne will stage most of their home meetings on Saturday nights and will have two extra home league meetings after Belle Vue Colts and Isle of Wight Warriors were accepted into the competition.

Eagles chairman Martiin Dugard admits finance was the key reason for Eastbourne opting not to defend the National Trophy.

Dugard felt there would not be a great amount of interest in the Trophy from fans.