CASTLE Cover chief Andrew Marchington has indicated he would like his company to continue backing Pirates beyond their current deal.

The Poole-based over-50s insurance specialists have just come to the end of the first year of a two-term agreement as the Elite League champion’s main team sponsors.

However, even though the package, believed to be “the biggest (sponsorship) deal in British speedway” still has 12 months to run, Marchington can’t help looking ahead even further.

Castle Cover’s managing director, who helped set up the company in 2006 with work colleagues, said: “We have a contract with Poole for next year.

“But I look at it as a rolling one-year, two-year contract.

“So I would be very surprised if we weren’t here in 2010, 2011.”

That will be music to Pirates chief Matt Ford’s ears, and the ears of the club’s fans.

Everyone within the sport knows the current credit crunch has hit speedway attendances hard in 2008.

Indeed, it is believed Poole and Swindon are the only two top-flight clubs in Britain who did not suffer a financial loss this season.

If that is so, in the Dorset club’s case it’s largely down to the main team sponsorship backing of Castle Cover, whose lucrative package was said to be worth “in excess of six figures over two years” when it was announced in March.

Marchington’s company, who had also backed Pirates in 2007, have first option on extending the current deal by one year into 2010.

Ford has always made it clear he believes Poole’s success – they have lifted nine major trophies during his 10-year tenure at the club – has been heavily reliant on the backing they receive from local and national businesses.

The co-promoter, whose club were given a “financial bonus” by Castle Cover for winning this season’s championship, said: “I can’t stress too much to our fans how much that helps us compete successfully at the highest level.

“I’m so grateful to all the companies who get behind us and enjoy our good days and bad days.

“I hope they keep on supporting us and help us win more silverware because it’s always a team effort on and off the track as far as we’re concerned.”