MILDENHALL promoter Mick Horton has made the hardest decision of his time with the club by axing out-of-form captain Shaun Tacey and replacing him with England Under 21 International Andrew Moore. Tacey has struggled to find his best form since joining o

MILDENHALL promoter Mick Horton has made the hardest decision of his time with the club by axing out-of-form captain Shaun Tacey and replacing him with England Under 21 International Andrew Moore.

Tacey has struggled to find his best form since joining on a full transfer from Coventry this year and although his 6.24 average from the completed Premier Trophy campaign almost matched the one he arrived with, Horton feels the ASL Freight Fen Tigers need to be stronger at the top end as they begin their league fixtures.

"It's a very tough decision and one that hurts me deeply to make but in the best interests of the team's chances this season, I felt it was one I had to make" said Horton.

"Shaun is a gentleman, everyone liked him but he simply was struggling to get to grips with his performances and hopefully a change of track will do him good. I wish him all the very best for the future."

The replacement of Moore is one that will certainly excite the West Row fans, having been plying his trade with Eastbourne in the Elite League since 2004.

The 23 year-old from Lincoln joins the Fen Tigers on a 7.76 average and will continue to double up with Eastbourne where he has been struggling in the no.2 berth and from next month will switch to one of the reserve positions.

He spent the entire season last year with the Eagles in the top flight, returning a 4.78 league average after a successful three years in the Premier League with his parent club Sheffield, winning the league and cup double in 2003.

Moore, in fact, has donned the Tigers race jacket briefly before after being signed by Dingle Brown in the 1999 Conference League but a serious injury in his second meeting called a halt to his West Row career then. The following two years he starred for Sheffield's third division side, helping them to successive league championships.

Moore is handed the no.5 position with Daniel King reverting to 3. Horton is currently consulting his riders on who will take over Tacey's skipper role.

On Sunday (May 21), Mildenhall face Somerset in their first Premier League fixture at West Row (3.30pm start) after losing 53-40 to Rye House on Saturday evening.