POOLE Pirates are reported to have signed Australian rider Dakota North as an asset from Peterborough Panthers.

Swindon Link have said that Poole struck a deal with the 23-year-old, who spent most of the 2014 season on loan with Swindon Robins, towards the back end of the campaign despite interest from the Blunsdon outfit and Elite League play-off finalists Coventry Bees.

Pirates promoter Matt Ford has yet to confirm or deny the swoop for the highly-rated charger who finished last season with an average of 6.57 in the top flight.

North represented Pirates as a guest during their regular season run-in, racking up eight points at Coventry and 10+1 at Leicester as Poole claimed maximum points from each away day en route to top spot in the table.