Rider Sam Woods says the pressure is on following the shock sacking of Kent Kings captain David Mason.

Team bosses showed they are prepared to be ruthless in their bid for success by axing Mason after two fixtures.

Kings start their National League campaign at home to King’s Lynn Young Stars at Central Park on Monday, June 3 (6.30pm) and Woods – one of three rookie riders – knows the team have to perform.

He said: “It does put a bit of pressure on you knowing the team are prepared to make changes.

“All you can do is put it to the back of your mind and do the best you can when you’re out there.

“We’d just started getting to know Dave Mason but these things happen in sport.

“It’s thrown us off our game a little bit but it was better it happened when it did, rather than halfway through the season when we would really have got to know him.”

Monday’s National Trophy fixture at Central Park saw the Kings suffer a 42-48 defeat against the Mildenhall Fen Tigers.

The scheduled KO Cup visit to the Isle of Wight, on Tuesday night, was postponed due to heavy rain.