CO-PROMOTER Danny Ford admitted it would be “fantastic” to see the return of Chris Holder to Pirates and said: “If everything works out, we’d love to have him back.”

Club legend Holder this week admitted on BT Sport Poole would be “ideal” for him after hinting at a return to British Speedway next season.

The 31-year-old, a five-time league winner with Pirates, is sixth in the club’s all-time list of point-scorers with 3,069 from 1,340 rides.

And while Ford insisted the lure of having the 2012 world champion back at Wimborne Road would have fans “over the moon” he admitted it was “too early to say” whether a return for Holder could be secured.

He told the Daily Echo: “Everyone knows the history Chris has with the club. He’s an absolute club legend. To have him back next year would be absolutely fantastic.

“It would take you back to the time when we had him and Darcy Ward.

“I can’t remember anything quite like that unless you go back to the (Tony) Rickardsson era.

“Having that little bit back in bringing back Chris would be fantastic and I am sure the fans would be over the moon to have a former world champion back in the team.

“He is such a high-profile name in the sport. It goes without saying that, if everything works out, we’d love to have him back.

“At the moment though, it’s impossible to say because we are not entirely sure what will happen with the points allowance for next year. Chris comes in on a seven-and-a-half point-ish average.”

Holder, a Poole asset, had been set to line up in the skull and crossbones during the 2018 campaign but failed to turn a wheel for Pirates due to visa issues.

He has featured for teams in Poland and Sweden this season but not ridden in the UK.

“A few years ago he went to King’s Lynn and had a horrible time there,” said Ford.

“Since then he has had visa issues where he hasn’t been able to ride in the UK. I think he just wants that bit of stability back and we have had fantastic times together. It would be absolutely fantastic welcoming him back but it’s too early to say at the moment.

“It’s a fantastic option to have guys like that who may be available for us next year.

“It’s frustrating at times that you are only allowed seven because we could build an absolutely fantastic team with the asset base we’ve got.

“If he does become available and we can fit him in, then it would be fantastic welcoming Chris back.”

Pirates are set to visit Swindon in the SGB Premiership tomorrow (7.30pm) and are once again expected to operate rider replacement for the injured Richie Worrall.