RUTHLESS Pirates chief Matt Ford swooped for Polish flier Grzegorz Zengota before admitting further changes could be in the pipeline.

Zengota will provide cover in the number-one slot for Krzysztof Kasprzak while the under-fire charger recovers from the broken collarbone he sustained earlier this month.

Swindon asset Zengota joins for an initial four-meeting spell and returns to British shores for the first time since he won the Robins rider-of-the-year award in 2015, his debut inked in for Monday at Wolverhampton – subject to approval from the British Speedway Promoters’ Association.

Kasprzak is expected to be fit for the home clash with Leicester on Wednesday, June 21 but should his 28-year-old compatriot impress in his absence, the former Grand Prix ace may not return to Wimborne Road.

And with Pirates having already lost three SGB Premiership meetings this season, Ford has sounded a warning to his septet.

He told the Daily Echo: “This is the first move we are making and I have a feeling it may not be our last. We have to stay in the competition and at this point in time, we are doing okay but are by no means near the best.

“If opportunities arise which will improve us as a team, I will not act on sentiment, unlike last year.

“Other teams are making changes and there is a feeling we may be getting left behind. I am very conscious of the fact Wolverhampton are, in my opinion, a step above the rest of us.

“They have brought in Rory Schlein and Mark Riss and those two moves alone have made them a real force. We are all now playing catch up, even Belle Vue.”

Twice a winner of the Under-21 Speedway World Cup, Zengota has yet to ride for Leszno in the Ekstraliga this season, although he has been selected for Sunday’s home clash with Grudziadz.

In addition, he did not feature in two of Vetlanda’s first three meetings in the Swedish top flight.

And while Ford admits he is taking a chance by bringing in the ex-Coventry racer, he feels Zengota’s need to prove himself to his Polish employers should motivate him to perform well for Pirates.

Ford said: “Greg has not been very productive this year but I feel we have little to lose. The guests available would not necessarily cover Krzys’s absence.

“What really appeals to me is Greg has to show his worth, which could help him keep his place in Poland. With that in mind, I feel this is worth a chance.

“He has to come in and do his best because he needs to show Leszno he is capable of scoring good points. I feel the pressure is on him to produce so he can keep his place in his homeland, where the finances are very different to those of the UK.

“If he comes in and does a very good job, the situation (over his Poole future) is left open.

“In speedway that is the way it has to be.”