NICOLAI Klindt is the final piece of Pirates’ team-building jigsaw – and boss Matt Ford hopes to keep the Dane on board for the 2020 campaign.

Club asset Klindt, who turns 30 on Saturday, proved a key cog in the Poole side which secured a rags-to-riches SGB Premiership title success last season.

He joined in mid-June and produced a string of superb hauls, top-scoring in the play-off final against King’s Lynn.

The Daily Echo understands the Outrup-born racer had been wanted by the Stars for the new campaign but instead agreed a return to Pirates on a 6.61 average.

And Ford was delighted to welcome back the former Wolverhampton man, who alongside Jack Holder, Brady Kurtz, Josh Grajczonek and Nico Covatti was in every team plan the promoter put together.

Ford told the Daily Echo: “If you were to speak to Chris Holder, he would tell you he felt Nicolai had been our championship-winner last season.

“His gating prowess is taking him to another level and he has stayed injury-free for a period of time.

“I don’t think it’s any coincidence that this year he won leagues in Britain with Poole and Workington and performed to a high level on the continent as well.

“We have discussed a two-year plan because he will be due a testimonial. The intentions are that Nic will stay with us for two years and will have a testimonial in 2020.

“It gives him and his sponsors a bit of stability, knowing he will be around for a longer period.”

Pirates 2019: Jack Holder (7.39), Brady Kurtz (7.05), Josh Grajczonek (6.70), Nicolai Klindt (6.61), Richie Worrall (5.46), Nico Covatti (4.70), Nikolaj Busk Jakobsen (4.39).