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Rob Lyon hopes to put "smiles back on faces" at King's Lynn Stars after agreeing to return to the club from Peterborough Panthers.

Lyon has been appointed as team manager and co-promoter, having previously led the Stars to several trophies.

The Panthers will not be able to race next year because their East of England Showground home is to be redeveloped.

"King's Lynn holds a lot of great memories for me, I had a lot of success there," Lyon told 91�ȱ� Radio Norfolk.

"Sometimes it's fate that you end up in certain situations and places and I'm back at King's Lynn where it all started really.

"They've had some lean times in recent years and it's part of my job to try and get them back up to a position where they are challenging again, certainly play-off positions and hopefully silverware."

The Stars won the Premier League title in 2006 and 2009 during Lyon's previous spell at the club, as well as the Division Two KO Cup and Premier Trophy.

They reached the Premiership final in 2018 before losing to Poole Pirates, but have finished in the bottom two in the table in the last four seasons.

"It's a little sad when you turn up with the opposition and see what's going on but you have a job to do with whoever you are with at the time and you have to just concentrate on that," said former Great Britain team boss Lyon.

"You have to be professional about it and go about your job. It's been difficult (for the club) but hopefully we can bring the smiles back to people's faces and give the fans something to cheer about."

Danish rider Benjamin Basso is also making the move from Peterborough to the Adrian Flux Arena for 2024.

Lyon said: "He's a great lad. King's Lynn is his favourite track in England, which is a bonus.

"It was a no-brainer really. He's got a lot to offer. He will come in on an average (6.25) I believe he's more than capable of improving on, and he's mega excited."