New boss Bob Brimson today told his Eastbourne Eagles: "I demand 100 per cent commitment."

Brimson, the Eagles fan who took over as promoter in the close-season, admits there will be a few nerves as his club get the campaign under way with a challenge fixture at home to Poole Pirates tonight (7.30pm).

He expects to watch meetings from the pits.

And he is ready to let his riders, or even team manager Trevor Geer, know if he thinks things are not going well.

He said: "I know exactly what I expect from Trevor.

"I know exactly what I expect from the team and Nicki Pedersen the captain.

"God forbid any of them don't give me what I want.

"I expect 100 per cent total dedication to the cause, 100 per cent total professionalism.

"If anybody behaves in a way I do not expect a professional speedway rider to behave, they won't be wearing my club colours very long."

Asked if there would be any butterflies ahead of his debut meeting, he admitted: "I think I will be incredibly nervous.

"But my main thing is I don't want to lose sight of the fact speedway is an incredibly dangerous sport.

"I don't want anybody ending up a hero in hospital "I want them all home, I want them all safe and I want to win matches but not at the cost of dangerous riding."

Long-serving rider David Norris, who goes against world champion Jason Crump in the first race of the season, is quietly confident Eagles can surprise a few people.

He said: "We haven't got a bad team at all. If we all pull together, winning the league is not an exaggeration.

"It wasn't until I saw everybody ride that I thought that.

"The capability is there so I don't see why not."