PROMOTER Matt Ford revealed his mixed feelings over Pirates' rollercoaster season and admitted: "We have to accept we underachieved."

The decorated Dorset club exited the SGB Premiership play-offs at the semi-final stage after losing out to Alun Rossiter's powerful Swindon side over two legs.

Poole had snuck into the top four by virtue of a last-gasp victory at Somerset, that night of drama coming three weeks after Neil Middleditch's men had suffered a club-record fifth straight home defeat on the spin.

In a season where Pirates had been troubled by instability resulting from injuries and a string of team changes, a play-off semi-final exit proved a better outcome than many supporters expected.

And while Ford felt finishing in the Premiership's top four had been creditable, he confessed falling short of title success had left him unsatisfied.

He told the Daily Echo: "I think we did well to make the semi-final because we had a woeful month from mid-July, which was really damaging. That was the worst period for the club in my 19 years here.

"It was tough because at the time we had all the drama surrounding Krzysztof Kasprzak and when we did make the change to bring in Edward Kennett, it had an impact on the team.

"Once we gained our confidence, it was a much better team and I take my hat off to the team in that respect.

"It was perhaps one of the weakest teams I've dealt with at Poole but the truth is that it did well. That said, if we get to the semi-finals, our supporters are disappointed. We have to accept we underachieved.

"The only thing which pleases people, in my opinion, is title success. I don't think anyone wants to be an also-ran or a runner-up. That's not good enough – everyone wants to win.

"We have to pick ourselves up and I genuinely feel it will be different next year.

"All I can do is ensure we put together a competitive team. After 24 trophies I feel I have a certain amount of knowledge in picking a winning team and I hope people will respect that."

Ford insisted the season-ending injury suffered by trump card Nicolai Klindt in June had proved the catalyst for the downturn in Pirates' fortunes.

The Poole chief added: "I think we have to accept that this was not the best of years for the club. When Nic got injured, that was a huge turning point in the campaign.

"He was excellent for us, in particular at reserve, and while there were riders who were still underachieving at the time, his points were making up the difference.

"From that point onwards, we became nothing more than ordinary and as much as it hurts me to say it, we weren't the same team again.

"I waited for Kasprzak to regain his form but it didn't happen while he was riding for us and you just have to take it on the chin."