PIRATES’ troubled 2013 campaign took yet another remarkable twist today as Matt Ford called off the club’s Lakeside clash.

Promoter Ford made the shock move after his re-declared team had been struck by further misfortune in the lead up to tomorrow night's scheduled meeting.

The Wimborne Road chief insisted he had been left with little other option and claimed it would have been “financial suicide” to run the Elite League showdown.

Pirates lost new signing Przemyslaw Pawlicki to injury yesterday and the club reported that speedway’s management committee had subsequently told them they would have to revert to their original 2013 team for the fixture against Lakeside.

But with deals already finalised to bring in Pawlicki and Tomas H Jonasson as replacements for injured Darcy Ward and Kyle Howarth in a new-look line-up, Ford was not willing to do that and instead agreed with Lakeside to postpone the fixture.

Ford also said he was not prepared to give Pirates supporters a “watered down product”, with a Premier League rider up to a six-point average the only replacement permitted in the rule-book for injured Pawlicki.

In a statement on Pirates’ official website, Ford said: “The club has made a sizeable investment by bringing in Pawlicki and Tomas H Jonasson to replace injured Darcy Ward. If I have to revert back, I would be unable to bring in Pawlicki and Jonasson next week because of the averages and points regulation.

“Contracts have been agreed with these riders. I cannot just undo the financial commitment the club has made to this change.

“Pawlicki’s injury is completely out of my control. He is currently in hospital after a crash last night, just 24 hours after Jonasson crashed in Poland.

“I want to pass on my thanks to Lakeside who have agreed with me that putting on an inferior product is not what we are trying to promote. This fixture will be rearranged at a later date when we are in a better position to provide a quality meeting for the public.”

A Lakeside Hammers statement read: “The Vortex Hammers are very disappointed that our meeting at the Poole Pirates has been cancelled due to circumstances beyond our club’s control. The timing is particularly unfortunate as the team were keen to continue their rich vein of form.”

 

Meanwhile, Ford claimed Pirates would not receive a punishment for postponing the fixture as both clubs had reached agreement over the decision.

He also reported that he hoped Pawlicki and Jonasson would be fit to make their Poole debuts against King's Lynn on Monday.

The latest developments led Ford to call for the introduction of a squad system in British speedway.

Ford added: “This is happening too often and with too many of the promoters.

“I have Poole assets loaned out to several Elite League clubs and now I am unable to track a team. It makes no sense at all.

“With a squad system, we have the potential to entice GP riders to the Elite and avoid running teams under strength or lacking in numbers.

“We have an extremely knowledgeable public at Poole and I’m not prepared to give them a watered down product and expect them to pay the same prices.

“Fortunately, Lakeside agree with me and we will arrange a new date with a proper league clash, which will be worthy of the Elite title. I feel running tomorrow night would be robbing the public.”

The Daily Echo has so far been unable to contact the British Speedway Promoters' Association for comment.