AUSTRALIAN star Chris Holder has confirmed he will not return to Pirates this season.

The former world champion signed for Poole during the winter but has not turned a wheel for his parent club this year as he continues to battle personal issues.

And now the 30-year-old has revealed on Facebook that he will not don the skull and crossbones in 2018.

Responding to posts from fans on the Memories of Poole Pirates Speedway Club page, Holder wrote: "I won’t be back this year... sorry guys."

Pirates boss Matt Ford admitted at the end of last month that the Holder issue was "becoming unsolvable" and revealed plans to "press ahead" with the team.