PROMOTER Matt Ford conceded his Poole Pirates selection headache had become “desperate” after Josh Grajczonek became the latest victim of the club’s injury curse.

Aussie ace Grajczonek was ruled out of Poole’s Elite League title deciders having suffered a broken collarbone at Sunday’s Premier League Riders’ Challenge.

The second-stringer doubles up with second-tier Workington Comets, meaning Ford cannot draft in a replacement who rides solely for an Elite League club.

And while the Wimborne Road chief remains optimistic that Shamek Pawlicki (collarbone) and Vaclav Milik (hand) will recover from their respective injuries in time for the play-offs, he admits threadbare Pirates have it all to do.

Ford told the Daily Echo: “Josh’s injury is another crushing blow and the situation is proving incredibly difficult at the moment. The search for a replacement will start once we know who we will face in the play-offs.

“If the first meeting had been held a couple of days ago, our team would have been unrecognisable. It’s ridiculous at this time of year and another reason British speedway needs a squad system. It’s a real hardship because we’re desperate to track a competitive team.”

On Pawlicki and Milik, Ford added: “Shamek made his comeback in Poland last week and wasn’t fit to ride but performed very well in the Grand Prix Challenge so unless anything unforeseen happens, I would fully expect him to take his place in the line-up next week.

“Vaclav was due to practise in midweek and with the nature of his injury, we would hope to have him back too.”

“Both of them are crucial to our hopes, particularly now Josh is on the sidelines.”