SHOCKED Matt Ford admitted his primary concern was the wellbeing of Chris Holder after vowing to bide his time considering Pirates' team options.

Pirates were dealt a huge blow - and the worst one of a luckless 2013 - when Holder suffered multiple injuries in what Ford labelled “yet another catastrophe”.

A statement on Holder's official website reported that the world champion was “comfortable” in University Hospital Coventry after undergoing hip surgery.

The 2012 Grand Prix king sustained a fractured and dislocated left hip, as well as a shattered heel and broken shoulder in a big spill at Coventry on Friday.

That came after Ford had just put the finishing touches to his new-look line-up to reunite Turbo Twins Holder and Darcy Ward at the top of the Poole order.

The Pirates chief said his immediate thoughts were with his captain and ruled out the possibility of any quick re-declarations to Pirates' one-to-seven, with fitness doubts also surrounding Tomas H Jonasson.

Ford told the Daily Echo: “It was just yet another catastrophe in the season-long dramas that the Pirates have had this season.

“Chris is a good friend of mine. Before anything else and the fact that my business needs him greatly, my initial thoughts straight away were concern for my friend.

“Secondly, when you know he is in the right place and that, thank goodness, the injuries are not even more serious, your thoughts turn to how we can deal with this in trying to run the business.

“I am still a little bit in shock and not quite sure which way to turn at the moment. We have two meetings, today and Wednesday against Wolverhampton, and then a fortnight break until we ride against Belle Vue at home. I think it is best for us to take time out for the next week and consider what we do.”

Bearwood-based Holder had an operation to put his hip back in place on Saturday but is expected to require further surgery and faces a long rehabilitation process, with team boss Neil Middleditch predicting a potential six months out.

Writing on his Twitter page, Holder said: “Cheers for all the messages! Appreciate it! Not in real good shape at the moment, but I'll be back.”

Pirates team boss Neil Middleditch, who accompanied Holder in an ambulance following the spill, said: “As bad as it is, it is in riders' make-up to come back. As a speedway rider, you accept that injuries are part and parcel of the sport.

“Chris's wellbeing is paramount but it was a great shame for the club when things were just starting to get better. It will be very difficult to move on because of the severity of the accident. It was one of the worst ones I had seen for a long while.”

Meanwhile, Ford has booked Martin Smolinski to guest for Holder at Wolverhampton tonight (7.30pm), with Troy Batchelor to deputise against Wolves at home on Wednesday.