MATT Ford has launched an impassioned defence of Poole Pirates' loyalty to Darcy Ward and predicted the stricken star's most recent indiscretion would be his last.

The Pirates promoter held fire on finalising his one-to-seven for 2015 while global speedway chiefs decided 22-year-old Ward's fate over a failed alcohol test prior to the Latvian Grand Prix last August.

Maciej Janowski, the stand-in captain as Poole lifted last season's Elite League crown, and up-and-coming Polish charger Kacper Gomolski were yesterday announced as the final pieces of Ford's jigsaw with Ward banned until June.

But the Wimborne Road chief insisted the Aussie asset had been “deeply affected” by the events of the past seven months and backed Ward to bounce back with a challenge for individual and club honours.

Ford exclusively told the Daily Echo: “I can see the difference in Darcy. I am not asking people to believe what I say, it is up to people to see the difference for themselves.

“But I know that despite his chequered personal circumstances over the past few years that this will be the final time we have any form of issue with him.

“While he has caused problems in the past, and I am not trying to gloss over those, he will be a great servant to the club in the future.

“He has been deeply affected by the problems resulting from his actions but I have no doubt he will come back and go on to become world champion in the near future, while carrying the fight for Poole Pirates for many seasons.”

And Ford argued that Poole had done the right thing in their steadfast support of Ward and would reap the rewards of their steadfast support in the long term.

“We have tried to help Darcy as much as possible,” he added. “On a personal level we feel he has been kicked enough already with losing his Grand Prix place and everything else.

“We felt that whoever stood by Darcy in his hour of need would benefit in the future and I still firmly believe that.

“Whether or not we can fit him in during 2015 is another matter. That depends on many issues such as form, availability and fitness of riders but beyond that there is no doubt in my mind – I see Darcy Ward spending the rest of his career at Poole Speedway.”