NEIL Middleditch admits Poole Pirates will ‘have to start using options very shortly’ as Darcy Ward’s career continues to hang in the balance.

Pirates team boss Middleditch revealed last week that time was running out for club asset Ward to secure his place at Wimborne Road for the upcoming campaign.

The 22-year-old Aussie is still awaiting a verdict from the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) following his January 30 hearing over a failed alcohol test in August.

Ward, a two-time world under-21 champion, would still have to secure a visa even if he were cleared to ride.

However, Middleditch hinted that Poole were on the brink of a different route.

He told the Daily Echo: “It’s very frustrating because everybody’s got their teams in place and we are sitting here waiting for a key member of our side.

“We have options and dare I say it, we are going to have to start using those options very shortly. If they take 45 days to make the decision, I’m afraid that by then it will probably be too late.

“I don’t understand what their reasoning is behind taking this length of time to reach a verdict. We’re six months down the line now. It’s absolutely ludicrous and I just don’t know what they are thinking.

“Love or hate Darcy, the kid deserves to know one way or the other what he’s going to be doing this season.

“Even the majority of the Poole haters are sensible enough to see that this is not fair on any party. Like I keep saying, Darcy messed up and deserves to be punished but no one deserves to wait this long.”