DANNY Ford admitted he would love to take over from dad Matt Ford at Pirates but insisted: “Let’s see how it goes.”
The 24-year-old and Anthony Tilley were last month named promoters at Wimborne Road with boss Matt admitting the duo “could give us an option for the future”.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo in September, Matt revealed he was open to offers for the most successful club of the modern era.
Broadstone-raised Danny, a former pupil at Corfe Hills and Broadstone Middle, will learn the ropes of running the business during the upcoming season.
And the Oakdale resident said taking over from his father, who has been in charge for more than 20 years, would be a possible route.
Asked if he would like to eventually take the helm, Danny told the Daily Echo: “Absolutely. Speedway is a passion of mine but I won’t get ahead of myself and say I’m 100 per cent going to take over just yet.
“We’ll see how this season goes and if dad thinks I’m up to the job. Whatever his future plans are, I guess it will grow from there.
“He is looking at a venture abroad which may take him out of the country quite regularly, although he will be coming back for home meetings.
“I’m there as his understudy, watching what he does day-to-day and picking it up as I go and, hopefully, taking a lot of the pressure off him.
“Depending on how he thinks I’m doing, of course I would love to (take over) but let’s just see how it goes.
“Because I’m passionate about speedway, it almost doesn’t seem like a job at this stage.
“I’m really excited to get involved. I’m not looking at it and thinking: ‘I haven’t got time for it’. I’ll make time for it. I’m that passionate about it.”
A senior project manager at digital marketing agency Bespoke 4 Business, Danny was a director at Poole prior to taking the role of promoter.
Unsurprisingly, he is an ardent fan of the shale sport having grown up with it in the family.
He said: “I’ve been a massive fan of the Pirates for most of my life so I’m massively thankful to my dad for giving me the opportunity and having the faith in me to play my part.
“For the past 10 years or more, I have lived and breathed speedway, not just in the UK.
“I follow all the GPs closely and keep up with all the results from all the different leagues, and I’m quite good friends with a few of the riders.
“I think I come in with a unique perspective in that I have worked for a marketing agency for the past six and a half years.
“The fact I’m a huge speedway fan and have been around my dad doing it for most of my life, gives me several ways to look it.
“I can’t wait to get started and to learn more from him.”
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