NEIL Middleditch has backed Darcy Ward to continue to make his mark in speedway – irrespective of his long-term prognosis.

Ward, 23, faces an uncertain future having sustained serious spinal injuries while riding in Poland in August with reports emanating over the weekend that his visa expires in January.

Middleditch confirmed Ward would have to return to his native Australia at some point early next year with the club helping him to explore all available options with regard to his ability to stay in the UK.

But irrespective of what may happen, the Poole Pirates manager reckons Ward will take some sort of role in the shale sport before vowing to aid his cause.

Middleditch told the Daily Echo: “Darcy is hopeful. He is strong minded, doing as much physio as he can and I know he will keep fighting. It is in his nature.

“I think he will still be very much involved in speedway. There is always something for him here at Poole, he knows that and Monster have said they will stick with him.

“He has tremendous support, the like of which I have never seen before.

“That is the one thing he clings to, the fact there is so much love out there for him all over the world so I am sure he will still be involved in motorsport one way or another over the next few years.”

On Saturday, Australia team manager Mark Lemon revealed Ward’s stay in the UK was coming to an end with Middleditch adding: “The visa issue is a problem. From speaking to Darcy, he realises he has to go back to Australia for some time but he would like to come back here if he can. It’s a complex situation governed by a lot of regulations but we are doing everything we can to help.

“At the moment, our focus is on getting him closer to (his UK) home. He has been coming down from the hospital at weekends to stay with me or at his girlfriend’s but it is a long old trek.

“Being closer means he can keep getting the medical attention he needs while getting to see the people closest to him more often, which can only be good for him.”

On Ward’s condition, Middleditch said: “He is having three or four hours of rehabilitation five days a week to help him adapt to things. A lot of it is re-learning to be honest and it is still early days yet.

“We still don’t know what the future holds for him physically. He is in a wheelchair, mobile and can use his arms. Beyond that, I don’t think anybody can comment with any certainty.

“Medical science is a wonderful thing and he is a young man. We just have to wait and see.”