IT HAS now been four speedway seasons since Poole Pirates last competed in the Premiership.

But a return to the top flight of the sport in the UK is not on the cards for Pirates, despite soaring to a 2024 treble at Championship level.

Speaking with the Daily Echo to give an update on the club’s position, Poole promoter Danny Ford said moving back up would be a risk for the club financially and not one the ownership would be willing to take.

“I know that the Premiership would welcome us back with open arms, but for us right now, it doesn't make sense,” Ford explained.

“Financially, the club's in a stable position and a move to the Premiership would be a huge risk and put the future of the club at risk.

“A lot of those top clubs are propped up by huge sponsors and very wealthy owners. We're not quite fortunate enough to be in the same position as some of those.

(Image: Richard Crease) “Just for the stability and the future of the club, we feel that's more important than maybe a season or two in the Premiership, which, if one of those proves to be a disaster, could cost the club completely and bankrupt the club.

“So, if anyone were to be a gambling man and take on those odds, I think they'd be crazy.

“We think that the future and stability of the club's worth more than perhaps a season or two in the Premiership.”

But Ford said Pirates have more than proved how good the Championship can be – emphasised by a thrilling Grand Final this season against Oxford Cheetahs.

“I don't think I'm speaking massively out of turn that I think the Championship Grand Final put the Premiership Grand Final this year to shame,” Ford said.

“We had an absolutely fantastic crowd, one of the best crowds we've seen. It certainly would have been the envy of a lot of Premiership grand finals.

“It was a meeting that had everything. The stakes were really high, whereas the Premiership Grand Final, I think, was a bit more of a formality.

(Image: Richard Crease) “I think there's always those people who want us to move up to the Premiership, which I do understand, a lot of people want to see the top riders, but at the cost of the club's future, I don't think it's worth it.”

Ford added that since his dad, Matt Ford, has owned the club, they have only turned a loss in one year – and that was in 2019, their last season in the Premiership.

“He said that if the club ever made a loss again, he's not willing to prop it up with his own finances,” Ford said.

“So a move to the Premiership, if that brought a loss, would see the closure of the doors at Poole Speedway.

“As I said before, we're not multimillionaires who are willing to just throw money away.

“The club is in a very good position where it pays for itself and doesn't have to be offset with other businesses.

“As long as that continues from our point of view, speedway will keep running and a move to the Premiership cannot guarantee that.”

(Image: Richard Crease) Pirates have seen hugely positive crowd numbers in 2024 – with a 10 per cent increase in crowds across the entire season.

Before the season started, Ford told the Daily Echo that there had been a 10 per cent increase in demand for season tickets – and this translated to the same increase across all meetings.

“The grand final was the biggest crowd we've had since our return, since our move to the Championship and our biggest crowds post Covid,” Ford said.

“It was a fantastic crowd, bolstered by the travelling Oxford support who, I know things did spill over a little bit, but really made the atmosphere of that grand final what it was.

“So, I know there's been a lot of talk about it and perhaps things did cross the line in certain stages, but I think that rivalry really did make that grand final what it was.

(Image: Richard Crease) “Crowds have been really healthy. It's encouraging. A lot of people say speedway is a dying sport, but it's not proven that way.

“Here, down at Poole, we're seeing increases year on year and I know I've had a lot of inquiries about season tickets for next year already, so really encouraging.

“We've got a solid backing here at Poole and we seem to be enticing new younger supporters coming as well, because obviously they're the future of the sport and hopefully we can just carry that on for next season.”

Lastly, Ford issued an update on Pirates’ place at Poole Stadium.

Matt Ford told the Daily Echo in 2023 that the side would be using the stadium in 2025, but beyond that was uncertain.

Promoter Danny confirmed that no further conversations had taken place earlier this year, and he said there was no significant update on this situation.

(Image: Newsquest) “All quiet on that front at the minute, which, obviously we're hoping no news is good news,” Ford said.

“I think with the way the economy is and stuff like that, there's a lot of uncertainty around things.

“I don't think they're massively rushing to build what would be a huge development here.

“We want to keep our cards close to our chest on that, but, in the imminent future, there's no noise of anything, so until then, nothing to report.”