BOSS Matt Ford has vowed to ensure Poole Speedway is in safe hands for the future – having confirmed he still intends to sell the club following their SGB Premiership title triumph.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Echo last month, Ford admitted he would be “very keen” to enter discussions over a sale if the “right offer” were to be lodged.

And having witnessed Pirates secure the eighth league title of his 20-year reign, the Broadstone resident revealed his plans had not changed.

Ford intends to pursue a business venture abroad which could leave his visits to these shores minimal. But whoever is in charge come the 2019 campaign, the 53-year-old promised the club would be directed on the right course.

He told the Daily Echo: “My mind is made up. I know there is something else which is going to be happening in my life but that doesn’t mean I won’t be running Poole Speedway.

“It really depends on whether someone comes forward for the club. I think, potentially, it would be better run by someone else because there is a great possibility I won’t even be living in the country.

“I really don’t know what is going to happen. There are six months before we start our next campaign because Easter is late next year.

“There could be a lot of twists and turns between now and then.

“First, I have to represent the club at the AGM. Nothing stops, I won’t take my foot off the gas at any point.

“We have to make sure this club is protected and that we’re in a healthy position, whether that’s with myself in charge or someone else taking over.”

Pirates secured the Premiership crown with a 92-88 aggregate win over King’s Lynn, having lost 51-39 in the decisive second leg in Norfolk on Wednesday.

Poole had been bottom of the league at the start of July but launched a remarkable fightback.

Ford said: “People talk about the championship-winning team of 1969 – the first year the club won a title in a big boys’ league – and I put this team on a par with that.

“We have no superstars but we have seven riders who can all win races.

“It’s been a rollercoaster and we’ve rode our luck. I don’t necessarily believe we have been the best team over the year.

“We happen to have been very lucky with the misfortune King’s Lynn had, although you can point to ours as well.

“In an odd way, this is our best performance in terms of winning a trophy because we looked down and out three months ago. No one gave us a chance then.

“Chris Harris was potentially the catalyst as to why we changed but the truth is there is so much more to it than just one or two riders.

“The whole team have performed and I take my hat off to all of them.”