7:00am Monday 6th October 2008
By Phil Chard
MATT Ford has shrugged off ex-Pirates star Jason Crump's shock move to try and help Lakeside beat his old club in the play-off final by insisting: "It doesn't really trouble us."
Poole Castle Cover visit Hammers in the mouth-watering Elite League championship showdown first leg at Purfleet tonight (7.30pm).
Lakeside have drafted in Krzysztof Jablonski in place of injured reserve Lubos Tomicek and the Pole will ride on Crump's bikes.
Poole chief Ford, who choose Bjarne Pedersen ahead of the two-times world champion for Pirates' team this year before releasing Crump to Belle Vue, said: "It does seem rather a strange move (for Jason) to make.
"If that's what he has chosen to do then good luck to him. It doesn't really trouble us.
"Bikes are one thing. Riders are another.
"We're not really too worried about that. It's just one of those things."
Crump has his Polish workshop at Jablonski's home and is big mates with the Wolves asset, who has signed for Lakeside on loan.
Jablonski's appearance in Hammers' line-up has surprised many observers, but Ford said: "It was always Lakeside's prerogative to make a change.
"There's nothing in the rulebook stopping someone making a change, even if it's just for next week's second leg at Poole.
"Whether you agree with it or not, Lakeside co-promoter Jon Cook hasn't done anything wrong.
"He's doing what I would probably do if the shoe was on the other foot.
"We just have to hope Krzysztof's lack of experience of Lakeside's track and lack of experience in the UK in the past five years will make him not quite so competitive.
"We just have to get on with it."
Ford, whose side host Hammers in the second leg on October 13, also played down Swindon boss Alun Rossiter's claim that Lakeside would "pull any trick in the book" to make sure they won the title.
Rossiter, whose side were crushed 56-33 in the semi, said: "I'm not bitter. They beat us fair and square.
"But when we got there they had painted our changing room pink and had made the track so slick it was as bald as the M25.
"They'll pull any trick in the book and won't do any different in the final because it worked against us.
"Poole must get their bikes set up right."
Ford said: "We're not bothered by Lakeside's antics. We're too long in the tooth to bother about that.
"We might not even use the changing rooms anyway."
Pirates go into tonight's clash at full strength, while Hammers still have a doubt about the fitness of Jonas Davidsson.
Ford said: "Hopefully Jonas will take his place because he was exceptional all year before getting injured.
"But you can't worry about who's riding against you. You just go out and do your job.
"There will be things going for us and things going against us. I don't think there's a clear favourite in this meeting.
"If we can hold them to within 10 points it would be a great result for the team.
"With all the rain we've been having, I can't see their track being so slick as last week. That would help us.
"We would feel comfortable at home having to pull back 10. Although not easy, it would be achievable."
Lakeside: 1 Andreas Jonsson, 2 Leigh Lanham, 3 Rider replacement Adam Shields, 4 Jonas Davidsson, 5 Tomasz Jedrzejak, 6 Ricky Kling, 7 Krzysztof Jablonski.
Pirates: 1 Chris Holder, 2 Magnus Zetterstrom, 3 Bjarne Pedersen, 4 Adam Skornicki, 5 Davey Watt, 6 Freddie Eriksson, 7 Daniel Davidsson.
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