PIRATES chief Matt Ford has ruled long-serving star Chris Holder out of his 2017 team-building plans after admitting the Aussie's bumper average would prove "restrictive".

But Ford remained open to an eventual Wimborne Road return for ex-world champion Holder and insisted the 29-year-old had given "great service" to the Dorset club.

The Ringwood-based charger heads into the new SGB Premiership season with a beefed-up average of 12.53 following a revamp of rules at last week's annual meeting of British speedway bosses.

And Ford admits this is simply too high for inclusion in the Pirates septet, even for a rider who has contributed towards no fewer than 13 trophies in nine straight seasons at Poole – including five league titles and three Knockout Cups.

Discussing Holder, the sixth-highest scorer in club history, Ford told the Daily Echo: "I'm not able to offer Chris a contract for the start of 2017.

"Sadly, because of the new rules, it's clear to see that even if he were to score a 12-point maximum every meeting, effectively we would be giving away half a point in our team-building structure.

"It would cause the club too many problems at the bottom if we chose to go down that route.

"That doesn't mean that any team which chooses to do this won't achieve success. But with how our team is being built, I felt using up such a massive amount was restrictive.

"That said, I know he would do a tremendous job for anyone who chooses to go down that route. Clearly, I would love to see Chris in British speedway. He has given great service to the club.

"Things change very quickly. Although he chose to sit out the 2013 season, he still came back to represent the club due to an injury. The door to Chris will always remain open.

"There has not been any falling out whatsoever – it's purely a numbers game.

"It isn't easy but we have to progress. It is a business. In the past it has been hard to use riders of the calibre of Darcy Ward, Tony Rickardsson and Mark Loram but the club has to move on.

"Let's make it abundantly clear, though, this door isn't shut."

Holder's younger brother Jack has been named as the first new signing for the season on a 7.16 average.

Reigning Australian under-21 champion Jack joined Poole on a full transfer from Plymouth in July.

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