NEW boy Hans Andersen revealed how repeated play-off heartache at the hands of Poole Pirates had convinced him to make the switch to Wimborne Road.

The experienced Dane was yesterday unveiled as Pirates' first signing of winter less than a month after his 2015 club Coventry had been dumped out of the Elite League play-off semi-finals by Neil Middleditch's side.

That was the third straight campaign in which Andersen had suffered a play-off exit to Pirates, after the Dorset side accounted for Coventry in the 2014 final and Swindon in the 2013 semi-final.

While Andersen had previously overcome Poole in 2012 in his maiden season at Swindon, the past three disappointments proved something of a sticking point, prompting the 34-year-old's decision.

He told the Daily Echo: "I was pretty fed up of Poole because I kept losing to them in the play-offs. The saying is, 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em', so I thought I had better join them!

"I've met them four years on the trot in the play-offs and only beaten them once which shows that they are putting strong and competitive teams together.

"Riding in a competitive team is really important to me. If you are part of a good side, everyone is having fun and you become better as a rider.

"I have mostly been happy at Coventry for the past two seasons but there have been times where I haven't enjoyed it. I thought it was a good time to move on and I'm really happy to be back where it all started.

"I had other options but it felt right for me to come back to Poole, especially as it was a two-year deal – it was nice to secure my future."

Andersen, who began his British career at Pirates in 2001 and subsequently rode for the club in 2002 and 2009, added that he did not foresee problems with a Wednesday race night.

The Odense-born charger's Danish side, Munkebo Scorpions, use the same night but Andersen insists both clubs will work together to ensure minimal disruption.

He said: "Matt Ford (promoter) was very keen to make it to work so that I didn't miss meetings for either team and that was probably one of the stepping stones for me to come back to Poole.

"The race night was really the only hurdle but we don't do as many meetings in England as we used to and Denmark doesn't start until May.

"Matt has had other Danes ride for him before – Bjarne Pedersen rode for a Wednesday club in Denmark and it worked out for him."