MATT Ford backed growing calls for a mid-season rule change over the promotion of reserve riders in the Elite League and insisted: “We can make it happen.”

Top-flight clubs must have two British riders from the fast-track system but in a change for 2016, emerging talents get pushed into the main body of the team based on their averages.

With no cap on how far they can go and the numbers now being crunched on a fortnightly basis, Poole pair Kyle Newman and Adam Ellis have been among those pitched against Grand Prix stars in mismatches.

In an interview with the Speedway Star, Keith Chapman, chairman of the British Speedway Promoters’ Association (BSPA), admitted the flaw had been “something we missed” over the winter but was adamant changes could not be made during the season.

But Ford believes the issue should be put to all promoters in a bid to gain a unanimous vote.

Ford told the Daily Echo: “I understand the principle but I would go back to 2009.

“There were going to be six teams in the play-offs until we made a change and brought in Hans Andersen. Conveniently, it changed from six to four during the season.

“That certainly went through with a majority rather than a unanimous vote, although I do believe any changes should be backed by all clubs.

“If every club felt the same, that we should adjust the rules so draft riders could only go up as far as numbers two and four, then we would certainly lend our support.

“It is a concern but I am sure the management committee is keeping an eye on it and I don’t envy their task, I have been there myself. All I would say is if the will is there, then we can make it happen.”

Darcy Ward suggested clubs could order top riders to tail off towards the end of the regular season and snatch a reserve berth for the play-offs but Ford resisted the urge to cry foul.

“That could certainly be the case but that’s the complexity of speedway rules for you,” he added.

“It is no different to bringing in an asset on a relatively low average just before the play-offs. British speedway has often tied itself up in too much red tape and these things happen.

“I have used these things to our advantage in the past and they have also been used against us.

“It is true that this rule has probably hit us as hard, if not harder, than most. Jumping up so quickly has made life very hard for Kyle and Adam but at the same time, the club should have benefited from Brady Kurtz dropping down.

“That hasn’t necessarily happened yet, although Brady’s scores have been solid with some impressive performances against Swindon recently.

“There will always be rules you benefit from and ones that cause you problems but in terms of benefiting British riders, I think it makes sense to sort it out.

“Numbers one, three and five are too hard, whereas two and four make perfect sense. They can test themselves and look to improve without draining confidence."

“It is happening elsewhere. Swindon’s Charles Wright moved up for a couple of meetings, Wolverhampton’s Kyle Howarth did it once and they didn’t score.

“But I do think some movement is a good thing, the whole idea is for these fast-track boys to improve.”