PHIL Bartlett has taken a bold step to try and bolster his side’s hopes of claiming the National League Trophy.

The Weymouth Weyline Wildcats chairman has made Karl Mason a permanent member of the squad and also drafted in ex-Bournemouth Buccaneer Daniel Halsey, while Adam McKinna has returned to the Newcastle Diamonds.

The Wildcats travel to arch-rivals the Plymouth Devils tonight and Bartlett is hoping the switch, which sees Luke Chessell miss out, will strengthen the bottom two departments of his line-up.

He said: “Karl stays a permanent member after putting in a solid performance at Newport last weekend and Adam drops out and Daniel comes in.

“It is disappointing to lose Adam as he is a fantastic rider and a great entertainer but by bringing in Karl and Daniel, hopefully it will make us stronger.

“It means Gary Cottham can drop into the reserves and strengthen that department and it should also strengthen the middle order.”

Bartlett went on to add: “Adam has signed back for Newcastle and their race night is Sunday. He is unavailable for tomorrow night’s return meeting against Plymouth at the Wessex Raceway (7.15pm) and also unavailable for the Buxton meeting next weekend so the fact we have brought in Karl and Daniel makes sense.”

The Wildcats are determined to put up a good fight in the Trophy after a hugely disappointing league campaign, which currently sees them lying second bottom.

Looking ahead to tonight’s meeting at the St Boniface Arena, Bartlett said: “Our chances in the league disappeared a long time ago but we have still got the Trophy to go for. It’s wide open and the fact it is done in a league format means we can go to Plymouth with no fear and hopefully come away with something.”

Devils: Glanz, Pickard, Bates, Stephens, Simmonds, Gough, Reade.

Wildcats: Bekker, Cockle, Brown, Mason, Halsey, Cottham, Andrews.