AMBITIOUS promoter Matt Ford insists Poole Pirates’ 70th anniversary campaign will be a “crucial one for the club”.

Ford has delivered a host of trophies since taking the reins at Wimborne Road in 1998 – including no fewer than seven top-flight titles.

Poole were also crowned champions in 1969 and 1994 and Ford is desperate to bring the total into double figures next year.

Ford put his livelihood on the line when he risked everything and borrowed heavily to purchase his boyhood club almost 20 years ago.

But the gamble paid off for Ford who took sole ownership when former business partner Mike Golding sold his stake in 2008.

Despite the club’s unprecedented success under Ford, the crown has slipped in the past two seasons with Poole losing in the play-off semi-finals.

And having won a hat-trick of titles in 2013, 2014 and 2015, Ford is keen to mark the club’s 70th celebrations by bringing back the glory days.

He told the Daily Echo: “We have had a lot of successful years since winning the title in 2003 for the first time since I effectively took over.

“It would be wonderful to mark our 70th anniversary with a 10th.

“Next year is crucial for the club and I need to ensure we have a very competitive team on track.

“I need to sell the club as much as possible in respect of getting in as many people as I can and I know that will depend on how well the team does.

“There are some very exciting things in the pipeline, bigger and better things than have ever happened before.

“We have new personnel coming on board and people will see the difference in the coming season.”

Meanwhile, Ford revealed he voted against scrapping the tactical ride for double points at British speedway’s annual general meeting.

He recently spent four days on Tenerife formulating plans for the new season with fellow promoters, the majority of whom were in favour of replacing the black and while helmet with the traditional tactical substitute when a team is six or more points in arrears.

Ford said: “These are the type of rules which come and go and I didn’t necessarily agree with it because I didn’t want to lose it.

“It can only be used once during a meeting between heats five and 14, excluding heat eight which needs to be protected as it often involves two lower-order riders.

“You now have the option of using a tactical ride which probably means one of your top guys will take an extra ride.

“I voted against it. But it was a democratic process and everyone had a vote. This one didn’t work for me but more people felt the change was needed. I will listen to the majority and am happy to adopt it.”

There will again be no promotion or relegation between the Premiership and Championship but the top four from each league will compete in their own play-offs.

The league summit also heard a number of working groups had been established from within the association to further develop speedway for the medium and long term.