I'VE had a real red carpet welcome back to the Pirates after 10 years away from the south coast.

To be honest it feels like a decade since I last rode for the club. The management has changed, the track has a new shape and there are a lot of new faces on the terraces.

But the core of the place is still very much in tact and I was extremely flattered by the welcome afforded to me on the parade on Wednesday night.

There is something extremely special about Poole Pirates and what I have been really pleased to see in my few weeks back is that the changes which have taken place since I was last riding at Wimborne Road have all been positive.

In Matt Ford and Mike Golding, the club has two promoters who clearly adore the place, Neil Middleditch is a passionate team manager I have always wanted to ride for and the supporters are unquestionably the most vociferous and knowledgeable in the world of speedway.

You can see why I'm happy to be back...

I have been told Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise was number one in the charts back in October 1995, the last time I was a fully fledged Pirate.

Coolio has disappeared and so much seems to have changed since then, but hand on heart, I know I have made exactly the right move coming back and everything that's happened since I re-joined has more than underlined that fact.

From our opening night home meeting on Wednesday, it's clear that although we beat Eastbourne, there needs to be improvement in certain areas of the team.

We've got to get the kids at reserve picking up a bit, so that the team's tail wags a little bit more.

Both Jason Doyle and Troy Batchelor have had the comfort zone of the Premier League in the past, but the Sky Sports Elite League is a different ball game and can be unforgiving.

But they both have a hunger and desire to suggest results will improve.

It's very early days.

From conversations with Sergey Darkin, it's clear that Wednesday was the first time he had been on a bike for a while, so he was going to be race-rusty.

I'm very impressed with Eddie Kennett, who contacted me as soon as I returned from Australia in February to say how delighted he was that he was riding in the same team in 2007.

He could emerge as the next big British rider if he keeps going at the current rate and I know he can be a huge favourite with the Pirates.

BUSINESS AS USUAL

I GUESS the reason Sky Sports have picked the Belle Vue-Pirates clash as their live match on Monday is the fact I am returning to Manchester for the first time since my close season switch.

I am sorry to disappoint the speedway couch potatoes, but as far as I'm concerned Monday is another day at the office. There is a job to be done and my priority is the Castle Cover Pirates.

There have been occasions in the past where I have visited former home tracks and Monday will be no different.

LOOK OUT FOR FREDDIE

THE busy start to the new speedway season has sadly meant I have been unable to keep progress with cricket's World Cup.

But I couldn't help but notice the huge furore in the press over the weekend about England star Andrew Freddie' Flintoff's marathon drinking binge.

I think I'm the same as most other sportsman who like to have a beer now and again, but I suppose it's knowing when to stop.

Personally, I think the fact the management have stripped Freddie of the vice captaincy has done England the biggest favour of all time.

Like former rebel Ian Botham, relieving him of the responsibility of looking after the rest of the team will allow Flintoff to concentrate on his own game.

A fired-up Flintoff can inspire England and make them one of the most dangerous opponents - particularly against my own success-hungry Australian team.