POOLE boss Neil Middleditch has appealed for calm ahead of the KO Cup final decider.

The Wessex Marine Pirates are red-hot favourites to wrap up a historic treble against Oxford at Wimborne Road on Wednesday night.

But the entire sport has been rocked by young reserve Vinnie Foord’s revelation in the Echo that he received death threats at Cowley during the first leg on Thursday night.

Foord had become the target of the boo-boys after two huge crashes in the Championship Grand Final in Dorset which many Cheetahs fans claimed the Sussex youngster had caused.

Inspirational boss Middleditch said: “I think we do need some calm. The threats were extreme and something I’ve never experienced before.

(Image: Taylor Lanning) “I heard for myself on the track walk, there was also someone shouting to Vinnie ‘who are you going to kill tonight’.

“It’s not just Vinnie saying it, I heard it, the entire team heard it.

“We’ve got a rivalry with Oxford which is great, they are fairly local.

“But speedway has always prided itself on the good behaviour of its fans. This is obviously just a minority and hopefully never to be repeated.”

Great Britain’s Speedway of Nations champ and World No.4 Dan Bewley also backed Foord. After seeing the Echo story he said on X: “Never met or spoke to him but I’m a fan. Got a bit of a spark to his riding.

“2 purely racing incidents at Poole the second of which the commentators were way off.”

The Pirates lead by a whopping 24 points after their 57-33 win at Cowley and it would take something bizarre to stop them completing the treble.

But Middlo refuses to get carried away, adding: “People are saying it’s all over but speedway is a funny old game. We don’t take anything for granted.

“We are obviously big favourites but we still have a job to do to wrap it up.

“This is for the fans. We hope they turn up in their numbers like they always do to cheer us over the line.

“That will make it a massive celebration for the club. To win the treble would be an incredible achievement.

(Image: Taylor Lanning) “The riders and management hugely appreciate the amazing support of the fans. If we can get it done, we want to celebrate with all the supporters and make it another night to remember at Wimborne Road.”

Middleditch also paid tribute to his good friend and rival Oxford boss Peter Schroeck and hopes Cheetahs fans will also back their side at Wimborne Road.

He said: “It has been hard in some ways. I go back a long way with Peter and I told him my job is just to win.

“I’ve been in the same situation of losing finals and lost and it’s not a pleasant feeling at all. I’m sure he will bounce back and so will Oxford.

(Image: Taylor Lanning) “I’d like to think that Oxford fans will also come to give their side a good send-off.

“They have had a sensational season and just missed out at the final hurdle for two trophies, just like we did a year ago.

“I know how that hurts but they should come along and cheer them on one more time. Even if they want to boo Vinnie a bit as well, in a good natured way!”