MATT Ford lauded “great professional” Gary Havelock and revealed Pirates were set to stage a benefit meeting for the speedway legend.

Pirates promoter Ford confirmed that the Dorset club was planning to honour Havelock with a special fixture at the start of the 2014 campaign.

That came after the injured former Pirates captain last week announced his retirement from the shale sport following a glittering career.

Havelock, the 1992 world champion, skippered Poole during his stint in Dorset from 1998 to 2002 and scored 1,423 points for Pirates.

But he was forced to hang up his race jacket as a result of the horror smash he was involved in while riding for Redcar Bears in March 2012.

Discussing Havelock, one of his first signings at Poole, Ford told the Daily Echo: “He was the first person I spoke to about taking over the club and he told me not to do it because he knew too many people who had lost their houses and things like that promoting speedway. I am pleased, in this one instance, he got something wrong.

“At the beginning of 2014, we will hold a benefit meeting for him at Poole Stadium. We spoke to him and it was always planned whenever he retired because, for four years, he was a very important part of the team.”

In a statement on his official website, Havelock said: “My battle with the nerve injuries in my arm has just been one bad injury too far. At the moment, it is a daily struggle to try to restore full feeling back into my arm, so riding a bike would be impossible.

“I feel very lucky to have been able to make a long and successful career out of something I loved doing most – riding my bike fast.

“It has been a privilege and an honour to represent my country at all levels and to represent some of the world’s greatest clubs. I will be forever grateful to all the people who have helped me along the way, not least my family.”

Meanwhile, Ford revealed he had played a role in Magnus Zetterstrom’s move to Belle Vue.

The Poole asset has been loaned to the Aces and he will start the 2013 Elite League campaign on a 6.63 average.

Ford added: “I asked if he would be interested in going to Belle Vue and he gave a favourable response, so I got the two parties talking.

“Magnus is a very good professional. We have tried to get him to come back to Poole once or twice over the past few years but, at that point, he was riding in the Grand Prix. If a space had been available this year, he probably would have jumped at the chance. We wish him well at Belle Vue.”