TRIPLE SWITCH FOR NICOLAI

28 year old Danish star Nicolai Klindt has made it a triple change of clubs for 2017 as he becomes the latest confirmed starter for the Poole Pirates.

The former European under 19 champion who enjoyed a league championship title success with Wolverhampton back in 2009, switches to Poole after spending last season with Leicester and that means he has changed clubs in Denmark, England and Poland for the forthcoming campaign. He recently signed a two-year deal with Danish club Esbjerg which sees him leave Grindsted, whilst, in Poland, he has joined 1st Division outfit Wanda Krakow from Czestochowa.

Announcing Klindt as a Pirate, Poole boss Matt Ford said "I feel this day is long overdue. I first brought Nicolai to the UK for a testimonial meeting before he signed a contract , and he was outstanding. Sadly for us, he chose to sign elsewhere, so jokingly he has some making up to do.
"He has since remained  a rider  whom  I have great admiration for. I have come close on a number of occasions to signing him but this year he is on a bargain average, for despite having ridden in the Elite league last season and achieving a 6.36 average  for Leicester, under the agreed rules  it is his Premier league average of 5.42 attained with Scunthorpe which prevails for team building purposes.
" I've seen it written by promoters talking about riders being able to increase averages in 2017, but in fact I believe fewer than 5 riders will achieve this due to us starting on a 50 point average, but reverting to a 42 average in May. Of course by this time riders would have achieved truer reflection, and almost all riders will see a decrease. However in Nicolai's case, I feel he will break the trend and actually increase his starting average.
"I have belief in his ability to significantly improve on that starting figure and I am delighted to be in a position to bring him to Poole at last.
"I have seen his preliminary home Danish fixtures which I can work around, and if I can gain any further idea of both Nik and Hans commitments in Denmark, I see no major concern for clashes. Hopefully I can receive this before Thursday when I plan to look at our own calendar.
"One thing I can inform the fans is to expect a busy Easter period, with home and away fixtures to Somerset on Good Friday 14th, and an away fixture on Sunday 16th hopefully not too far away."

The inclusion of Klindt leaves Ford sufficient points available to be able to sign his final two riders with higher starting figures than the Dane, which would then see Klindt occupy a reserve berth at least until the first set of 2017 averages are declared.