Ford: Sundays best for Buccaneers

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MATT Ford believes switching Buccaneers’ home meetings from Thursdays to Sundays and Wednesdays is the key to improved attendances.

Last year, Bournemouth Castle Cover’s race night was 24 hours after Pirates had run Elite League contests on Wednesdays.

But Buccaneers will only stage one National League fixture on a Thursday this year, going for three Sundays and five Wednesdays instead.

There is only one Pirates-Buccaneers double-header when Poole host Swindon followed by Bournemouth against Dudley on August 11.

Poole and Bournemouth chief Ford said: “Holding meetings on Wednesdays and Thursdays was impractical for people in these tough economic times.

“I have a feeling running some Buccaneers meetings on Sundays will be supported a bit better, people will be more inclined to come out and watch our young boys.

“We were dominant last year, claiming a league and cup double, but this is a new season and a new team. We’ve lost Jerran Hart, Kyle Newman and Andy Aldridge, so it’s going to be a lot harder.

“The team will have to click quickly because we know Weymouth will come here on April 11 determined to catch us cold in our opening fixture.

“But all the boys will have some practice behind them and hopefully we’ll be ready for the Wildcats.”

A Buccaneers press and practice day is planned at Poole on April 7 before Pirates host Peterborough.

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