Golding backing Pirates youngsters (From Bournemouth Echo)

Golding backing Pirates youngsters

7:00am Tuesday 29th July 2008 in

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MIKE Golding believes Poole will continue to host junior matches despite his departure from Pirates' promotional team.

The 60-year-old has played a major role in developing youth at Wimborne Road during the past nine years.

But now it has been confirmed he has sold his 50 per cent stake in the club to Matt Ford, Poole's sole owner, Golding has relinquished the job.

That raised fears the juniors, the majority of whom are aged from 13 to 18, might not be able to continue to race regularly at the Dorset track.

However, asked if he thought Poole would continue to stage Academy level matches, Golding said: "I don't see why not.

"Former Weymouth rider Garry May now has the youngsters at heart and I think he's working out fixtures with Matt.

"That ensures juniors will stay at Poole."

Golding, who still owns and promotes Somerset, added: "As tends to be the case with junior riders, they need to ride at other tracks.

"They are not under contract, so the ones who ride regularly for Poole will probably get rides at Somerset as well.

"My aim is to see as many juniors coming through to ride at senior level.

"I don't think it matters too much whether they ride at Poole or Somerset.

"We (both tracks) will continue to do everything we can to help junior riders.

"I just want to see as any juniors progress in the manner they are doing at the moment.

"We've seen the improvement in Brendan Johnson and Kyle Newman over the past year and it would be nice to get at least another three or four more in the Conference League next season.

"Also, I don't think we are asking too much to get at least two into the Premier League next year, thereby following in the tyre treads of Jordan Frampton, who has shown how to make the step up.

"It's all about giving them the chance to get as many rides as we can fit in.

"I believe there are junior meetings at Poole every week over the next four weeks.

"There are not always juniors because of time curfews, but everyone is working towards the continuance of junior matches at Poole.

"Everyone wants to run junior second half racing as often as possible."

Golding added there was still a chance Pirates could meet Somerset home and away at senior level before the end of the season in challenge matches.

He said: "Hopefully we can sort something out in September, but it won't be in August because of Somerset's involvement in the Premier League Knockout Cup semi-finals.

"Matt and I are looking to fix up something to cement the deal between us subject to both clubs' riding commitments."