CAPTAIN Davey Watt has been axed by Poole Pirates just five matches into the Elite League campaign – with club legend Bjarne Pedersen taking his place.

Promoter Matt Ford revealed he had felt pressure to act quickly with Watt’s average threatening to drop too far to make the switch possible on the back of a meagre return of just 19 points in the league.

And with Pedersen, Poole’s second-highest all-time point scorer with 3,576.5, available on a 6.55, Ford reluctantly chose to twist rather than stick.

Ford told the Daily Echo: “It was probably the most uncomfortable call I have had to make during my time in speedway, particularly with Davey having a few issues of late.

“The reason for making the decision now was that Davey’s average had dropped and I may not have been able to do it if I had waited.

“As tough a decision as it is, I believe it to be the right one and now, we have to press ahead.

“I do believe Davey will recapture his form and ideally, I would have stood him down for a week or two, even a month, to sort things out.

“But you cannot afford to do that in our sport. It is all or nothing.

“The decision was not an easy one and I know this will not go down well with certain people but unfortunately, the buck stops with me. This is part of my job.

“The door still remains open for Davey, even over the course of this year, but for now, we need to get him set up somewhere else to regain the form we all know he is capable of.”

Pedersen, himself a three-time Elite League champion with Pirates, will take the third heat leader’s berth and returns in time for Wednesday's trip to King’s Lynn (7.30).

Ford added: “The plus side is that we have a very credible rider coming in who also bleeds blue and white.

“He would never have left the club had it not been for the surge of Chris Holder and Darcy Ward and I think we have brought him back at the right time.

“He has started well in Poland and last week won the Danish qualifier ahead of the likes of Hans Andersen, Peter Kildemand, Mikkel Bech and Kenneth Bjerre. He is in very good form.

“This is not an untested signing. I know what we are going to get, I know he is very capable and believe he can push beyond the third heat leader’s position.”

Ford also confirmed Hans Andersen would take the role of acting captain. 

Meanwhile, Pirates have been rocked by the news that reserve Kyle Newman could require surgery on a groin complaint.

Newman misses the trip to Norfolk and Premier League club Plymouth’s meeting on Friday.

Pirates have drafted in Rye House’s Stuart Robson, who is eligible by virtue of being British and having a lower second-tier average than Newman.