HAVVY ON BOARD WITH MIDDLO

Poole Pirates will be operating a home and away management  scheme when they take their place in the SGB Championship for the 2020 season, with two club legends, Neil Middleditch and Gary Havelock, spreading the race day team managerial duties between them.

Middleditch, who has masterminded eight top flight league titles and steered the Pirates into all the Elite league play-offs 15 times (from the 18 seasons in which the play-offs have been in operation), and will be honoured,  at the start of the campaign.  with a special meeting in his name, in recognition of his services to Poole, will be at the helm for the Pirates' home meetings whilst former club captain and 1992 world champion Gary Havelock will be handed the rulebook when the Pirates are on their travels.

Speaking of the new structure, the club's co-promoter Danny Ford admitted "This is a brilliant compromise for us, as we never wanted to lose Middlo from the role he has performed so admirably since my Dad and Mike Golding brought him in as team manager. He has been brilliant and is so well respected in the sport. He has a great affinity with the riders and his record of achievements speaks for itself. However, we knew when we made the decision to drop down to the SGB Championship that the additional travelling and weekend racing would be an inconvenience for Neil who has other business interests to attend to. But Neil was very keen to continue in some way and who better to have as his cohort than Havvy.

Respected just as much as Middlo, Havvy has also become a great friend of Poole speedway and will work well with the team , so I think we have a terrific blend. The two know each other so well and to be able to tap into their vast speedway experience is something I am very much looking forward to and feel that it can only be good news for the club."