TROUBLED star Darcy Ward is set to discover his fate this week with Poole Pirates boss Matt Ford adamant he should be allowed to race.

Ward, indefinitely suspended from all speedway having failed an alcohol test in August last year, finally had his case heard by the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday with an imminent verdict anticipated.

A ban would prevent Ward filling one of Poole's two remaining team berths for 2015 with any omission from the line-up potentially affecting his ability to reside in the UK or gain another work permit for the next 12 months. 

The Daily Star reported earlier this month that the validity of Ward’s breathalyser test had been called into question as the FIM put back Ward’s hearing on several occasions.

Ward took to Twitter following his meeting with global speedway chiefs and posted: “So next week they will make a call. What do you do? Nothing you can do. I feel strong about it but we can still only hope.”

And Poole's promoter insisted his prized asset had already been punished enough having already been forced out for more than five months. 

Ford told the Daily Echo: “From what I have been led to believe there were mistakes made (with the testing) during that period of time so would like to see a line drawn under this now for the sake of everyone concerned.

“Darcy has been banned and unable to earn a living since August. He has lost his Grand Prix place and his future in Poland is in serious jeopardy after his club signed their third permitted foreign rider.

“When you couple that with the work permit problems all British clubs are dealing with the moment, I think the penalty is quite harsh.

“Many believe it to be fair but come March, hopefully he can get back on a speedway bike again and resume his career because everyone knows what a talent he is.”

Meanwhile, Ford reported that Poole had been working alongside rival clubs with the Home Office to resolve work permit problems for non-European Union riders.

The Home Office last month confirmed it had identified compliance failings with sponsor licences at a number of speedway clubs with Pirates number one Chris Holder’s visa among those at risk.

Ford added: “Going back a couple of weeks I said there were some very sensitive subjects to be addressed.

“We had an inkling that a problem could arise. Every British club is affected by this and having to apply for new licences.

“We are continuing to make inroads with the new procedures set.”