NEIL Middleditch admits he relishes the task of bringing yet more silverware to Pirates and “annoying” the critics who wish the club to fail.

Pirates are due to begin their Elite League play-off final bid at Belle Vue tonight (7.30pm) as they aim to become the first British club in 42 years to win three straight top-flight titles against the last team to achieve the feat.

Middleditch is set to preside over his sixth final in as many years and the team boss says he remains comfortable with the label of “the most hated club in British speedway”.

But he insisted that Poole had deserved every one of their trophies under the leadership of promoter Matt Ford.

Middleditch told the Daily Echo: “I don’t know why people want successful clubs to fail and I don’t know why some people dislike Poole.

“People say speedway can be dull but we have a full stadium most weeks, we have lots of sponsors and it’s a popular venue and a popular club in our area.

“It just seems to be that for some reason, a lot of other clubs’ supporters don’t seem to like our success and that’s fine, I can live with that. I will just keep on winning to annoy them!

“We are the club people love to hate and when I welcome new riders I always say, ‘welcome to the most hated club in British speedway’.

“We’re in this sport to win, that’s what we aim to do and six finals in six years speaks volumes.

“We work hard for our success and it has not come overnight. That’s what Matt (Ford, promoter) does, he doesn’t sit back and wait for the team to come to him, he works very hard.”

Both teams have declared full-strength teams for the first leg with Dakota North returning to the Pirates fold and Matej Zagar declared fit to spearhead the Aces’ challenge.

Despite his vast experience, Middleditch admitted to pre-meeting nerves but threw his backing behind his talented septet to complete the job.

He added: “Belle Vue are a very good club and are in the final with us for a reason. It’s going to be a tough meeting over two legs but it’s certainly within our reach.

“It holds no fears for us and neither does the Belle Vue track, even though people seem to think it does.

“I’m confident we can win but I’m not overly confident. I’m apprehensive. It’s speedway and anything can happen.”

Belle Vue: (from) Craig Cook, Max Fricke, Josh Grajczonek, Scott Nicholls, Stefan Nielsen, Steve Worrall. Team manager: Mark Lemon

Pirates: (from) Kacper Gomolski, Chris Holder, Maciej Janowski, Dakota North, Davey Watt, Kyle Newman, Paul Starke. Team manager: Neil Middleditch.