EVEN the great double acts have their moments.

Art Garfunkel was much aggrieved when Paul Simon went solo after they released Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Rodney Bewes and James Bolam – adored for their work on The Likely Lads – fell out when Bewes revealed in a newspaper interview that his co-star's wife was pregnant.

Then there was the curious case of former Manchester United strikers Teddy Sheringham and Andy Cole, who infamously could not stand each other off the pitch despite being brilliant on it.

Pirates boss Matt Ford and team manager Neil Middleditch – modern speedway's great combination – are no exception to the rule, although admittedly no lasting damage was done when, in August 2001, things became a little heated on the way home from Ipswich.

Poole had suffered a 46-44 defeat, a loss which all but ended their Elite League title hopes with Tony Rickardsson's meagre four-point haul a particular source of frustration and bewilderment to Middleditch.

The Swede had been due to travel home with his team manager but, seeing what was coming, he wisely made his own way. And so it was Ford who bore the brunt of the fury.

"We've had a few tiffs over the years but that night I turfed him out of the car!" said Middleditch. "I made him get a taxi home from Wimborne because I was so angry with the result we'd had.

"There were certain riders who I felt weren't trying as hard as they should have been and I was very angry we hadn't won the meeting.

"It shows how passionate I am and Matt's the same. It was a difference of opinion which we can look back on and have a laugh about now."

Such moments have proved a rarity. For the most part this relationship has operated like clockwork, yielding the kind of sustained success which other clubs can only dream of.

The duo's trophy-laden spell at Wimborne Road is poised to enter its 20th season and, at this point, it is probably quicker to list what they have not won than what they have.

Seven Elite League titles, five Knockout Cups, one British League Cup, four Elite Shields, three Craven Shields. There is more if you want to delve deeper into the trophy cabinet.

Worth noting also the telling statistic that since the play-offs came into force in 2002, Pirates have missed out just three times. So when they have made the play-offs, nearly 60 per cent of the time, they have emerged champions.

Having purchased Poole Speedway on an equal footing with Mike Golding in December 1998, Ford appointed Middleditch – already a club legend – to replace Neil Street.

At that point, the idea of still being in the role two decades later was inconceivable to Middleditch.

"Not for a minute did I think that would happen," he said.

"I thought it would last maybe four or five years. I don't know what the plan was with Matt but as we got to know each other, it grew and grew.

"I've enjoyed the ride. It's had its highs and lows and fortunately there have been more highs than lows.

"I think the success of our partnership comes down to our hunger for the club. If you cut us, we both bleed blue and white.

"I have been involved with the club all my life and Matt has gone from being a fan as a small boy, to a sponsor, to the owner.

"It's the passion we have for it. At the end of the day, it's a business and Matt puts in everything he can. He works hard looking after sponsors and the corporate side which a lot of clubs could learn from.

"His record is pretty impressive, whichever way you look at it. When riders come to us they realise it is a well-run club where the promoter and team manager think a lot of the riders.

"I've always said that as long as Matt is at Poole Speedway, I'll be there. He's become far more than my boss. We spend social time together and have become very close friends."

By Poole's sky-high standards, the past couple of years have been uncharacteristically lean. They were beaten by Wolverhampton in the play-off semi-finals in 2016 and suffered the same fate at the hands of Swindon in the newly-formed SGB Premiership last season.

No one associated with Pirates takes failure to win more personally than Ford. So he set about building a power-packed team capable of topping the standings once more.

Back came spearhead Brady Kurtz and proven performer Josh Grajczonek, with Polish pair Kacper Woryna and Mateusz Szczepaniak seemingly plucked from speedway's bargain basement.

Former world champion Chris Holder returned on a bargain seven-point average, before Ford's lengthy pursuit of World Cup winner Linus Sundstrom paid off and popular Puddletown racer James Shanes completed the septet.

Middleditch's opinion is always sought by Ford before deals are finalised and the team manager has given his seal of approval to the new line-up.

"I'm really excited about the team," said Middleditch. "I made no secret of the fact I wanted Chris back and we've got him back.

"What we have is a team of riders who are on very good averages and all of them have room for improvement.

"If they can all put a point on their average, I'd be very happy, and I think there are riders in the team who are capable of putting more on than that.

"As long as we can keep them safe, there's no reason why we can't be contenders for the title."