Bob Dugard has revealed how he tried to sign Scott Nicholls for Eastbourne Eagles as an unknown rookie.

Nicholls is now one of the most recognisable faces in British speedway as he heads to Arlington on loan from Coventry.

The Team GB skipper, Grand Prix regular and former British champion led the Bees to a cleansweep of the three domestic honours last season.

He has also made headlines for his relationship with Sky Sports pin-up Sophie Blake.

His arrival in Sussex has got Eagles supporters buzzing again and helped attract about 300 of them out into the depths of the countryside on a cold January night for a pre-season fans' forum.

Dugard, though, tried to bring Nicholls, now 29, to Sussex when he was an unheralded teenager just starting out at his local track Ipswich in 1995.

The Eagles co-promoter revealed: "I can remember the first time I ever saw Scott ride. He came down here and he was partner to Jeremy Doncaster "What would he have been? Sixteen maybe.

"I saw this little whipper-snapper beating Doncy out of sight and I thought he'll be good when he's older'.

"John Louis, the Ipswich promoter, wasn't interested in selling him.

"Even back as far as that I thought here is a kid with an abnormal talent' and I'm amazed Scott hasn't won more things than he has.

"Injury plays its part and I think a big part of Scotts problem is he is too much of a racer.

"He will try to go where angels fear to tread. That doesn't always work out.

"I know it worked for Nicki Pedersen here but then he was a bit of a special case.

"Scott is a bit more human and he probably puts himself at risk more than the other riders."

Nicholls remains an under-achiever on the Grand Prix circuit but Dugard believes a successful year with a new club can help put that right.

Despite finishing a modest eighth last year, Nicholls insists he still has ambitions to follow former Eagles hero Pedersen in being crowned world champion Dugard said: "Speedway is very much a confidence sport.

"A lot of Scott's problem in my opinion has been that he just tries too hard.

"If he can build his confidence up around the home track here, I don't see any reason why Scott can't go out there and win several Grand Prix."

With Nicholls now lining up alongside Team GB colleague Lee Richardson and five exciting youngsters, Dugard has described the new Eagles line-up as something akin to a dream team bearing in mind strict limits on averages.

He has admitted Pedersen's soaring average may have made him impossible to keep, even if the limit imposed by the Elite League had not been dramatically reduced to 38.85.

The Eagles chief, however, urged fans not to forget the Dane's contribution to their club in recent seasons.

One supporter attended Saturday's fans forum wearing Pedersen merchandise and was jokingly chastised by the master of ceremonies.

At that point Dugard interrupted, described the current world champion as a great servant to Eastbourne and added: "Nicki was a phenomenal rider.

"He was easy to work with and he was a winner. You cant take that away from him."