PIRATES chief Matt Ford insists his much-publicised spat over rising star Peter Kildemand is water under the bridge.

But Ford admits he fears the dashing Dane may come back to haunt him when Poole lock horns with Swindon tonight.

Kildemand was last season the subject of a controversial and complicated tug-of-club saga between Pirates and Coventry.

Ford was adamant he had struck a deal with the Dane for him to ride for Poole in a doubling-up capacity towards the end of the campaign.

However, following some frosty verbal exchanges between Pirates and the Bees, Kildemand did not feature in Poole’s Elite League run-in.

An asset of Premier League Workington, the 22-year-old has played a starring role at reserve in Swindon’s flying start to the new campaign.

“I think he will haunt us,” said Ford, ahead of Swindon’s visit to Wimborne Road. “He is in brilliant form. It was unfortunate what happened last year but you move on. You can’t have every rider.

“I am happy with what we have got and I wish Peter all the best with his career. I had no major issue with him. I know what was agreed and, although it was only verbal, it was a shame it was blown out of all proportion.

“He is a very good rider, which is why I tried to sign him, and it was disappointing that nothing came of it. That is life though and he is building a career with Swindon. Rosco (Alun Rossiter) has done well to bring him into the fold there and I am sure he is going to have a wonderful career.”

In-form Swindon arrive in Dorset on the back of four league wins on the trot and will include former Pirates trio Hans Andersen, Troy Batchelor and Jason Doyle.

Ford added: “It is going to be quite some meeting. Swindon and Lakeside are clearly the two form teams at the moment. They are getting points in the bag and you would much prefer that than having matches in hand.

“Swindon have got a very strong one to seven. Jason Doyle’s gating seems to be exceptional at the moment and it is going to be hard to control him.

“There is always special rivalry between Troy and Chris Holder and Darcy Ward.

“There is no love lost there and it is going to be quite something to watch those guys race against each other.”

Poole: 1 Chris Holder, 2 Sam Masters, 3 Darcy Ward, 4 Dennis Andersson, 5 Adrian Miedzinski, 6 Ricky Kling, 7 Todd Kurtz.

Swindon: 1 Troy Batchelor, 2 Nick Morris, 3 Simon Stead, 4 Jason Doyle, 5 Hans Andersen, 6 Robin Aspergren, 7 Peter Kildemand.