PIRATES promoter Danny Ford was thrilled with a ‘special season’ as his side secured the treble by winning the KO Cup.

But there were mixed emotions for Ford as skipper Ben Cook announced he would be leaving Poole.

Speaking to the Daily Echo after Pirates soared to their third title of the year, he said: “I'm absolutely delighted, obviously [with] the treble.

“We'd done the hard work at Oxford, let's be honest, so to secure it tonight was great.”

He said the feelings were bittersweet with the Cook announcement.

“That's really emotional for me,” Ford said.

“Ben's a guy that has been here since I've started running the club and [we’ve] nurtured him.

(Image: Richard Crease) “He's come along the same journey as me and we've spent a lot of time together, so that's hard that he won’t be back again next year.

“He won't be captaining the side, but I understand his reasons.

“He's on the precipice of great things in the speedway world.

“But let's not take away that this team's been absolutely fantastic all year.

“We've finished top of the league, won the BSN, won the Championship, and now to top it off, the KO Cup.

“It's a really special season.”

Ford said preparations are well underway for the 2025 season, with ‘a lot of hard work’ already put into crafting next year’s team.

“Obviously, losing Ben, [he’s] almost irreplaceable, but I'm happy with how things are progressing,” Ford said.

“It's no rest for the wicked, unfortunately.

“Straight back into it, and I'm sure I'll be making a few extra phone calls tomorrow.”

Ford said the message to the Pirates riders ahead of the KO Cup second leg was to continue their fine Wimborne Road form as they had been all season.

“We know that around here we're a formidable force,” Ford said. “We had one slip up in the year, but no disrespect to Oxford, they're a patched-up side, which is unfortunate.

“You want to be against teams when they're at the best, Oxford weren't tonight through no fault of their own, really.

“But you can only race what's in front of you, and that's what we did.

“We put on a good performance and nice way to finish off the year.”