Pirates chief defends team stance

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Matt Ford has explained why he has not been able to include any British riders in his starting seven this year.

The Poole Pirates supremo is growing increasingly agitated by critics of his team policy which has this year has seen him go with an entirely foreign septet.

But Ford insists the club are hamstrung by the fact they are a town-centre based club which does not allow them to run training schools or run a Conference side - which means they are not able to bring on young English riders like some clubs.

"It is a question I seem to have to answer on many occasions, but my reply is just not sinking in with people," he told the Speedway Star.

"Our track is in the town-centre and we have a school less than 50 metres from our first bend.

"Being in a town-centre, the council will not allow us just to start up bikes willy-nilly. We have an excellent relationship with Poole Borough Council and it one we would never jeopardy.

"Practice at Poole is limited to time after a meeting on Wednesday, which has to be finished by 10pm, and clearly this restricts us bringing on our own youngsters.

"It is easy to see British clubs can develop their own talent through the likes of Lewis Bridger and Edward Kennett at Eastbourne.

"Both riders live in Sussex and started their careers on the training track at Arlington, which is out in the countryside, well away from residential premises, which is a massive advantage.

"Being able to hold practices on Saturday and Sunday mornings lets a track like that build-up relationships with young riders.

"This year we are running the Academy league team again, which we really enjoyed last year, but it is a long way from what the likes of Scunthorpe are doing, bringing through riders like Josh Auty.

"It is almost impossible for us to compete at the same level."

Pricey

Ford also admitted some English riders are pricing themselves out of the market.

"To put our dilemma into a few words, I was quoted £40,000 for a five to six pointer English rider this year.

"That is why I have no English riders in my seven this year, it may change in the future by I can't promise it."

Last year Poole did have a British presence in the shape of Ed Kennett - but he has now returned to parent club Eastbourne.

"We also tried to include Edward in our team," he continued.

"But Ed's main sponsor is Martin Hagon - who now owns Eastbourne, so where do you think he is going to go?

"His main sponsor is hardly going to let him score points against his own club."