FORMER Pirates star Chris Holder admitted he would welcome a return to British Speedway in the future – but his comeback would be with a Premiership outfit.

The former world champion has been unable to turn a wheel in Britain for the past two years due to visa issues.

The Sydneysider is sixth in Pirates’ all-time points scorers’ list, with 3,069 from 1,340 rides.

But with Pirates dropping down to the SGB Championship at present, Holder admitted he would be unlikely to feature, with any return coming in the top flight.

Asked on Facebook when fans could look forward to seeing him back in British speedway, Holder told the Australian Speedway Championships: “I definitely want to be racing back in England. Without the GPs it opens up your schedule a lot more.

“The past couple of years I have been battling to get hold of a visa.

“I finally got one for this year and was planning to start the year.

“Because the visa didn’t come in until the last minute at the end of February, I didn’t have time to get bikes and I had nowhere to live in England.

“I wanted to get back here first and sort living arrangements before I splashed out on bikes and all the rest of it.”

He added: “The plan is to race in the UK at some point, whether it’s this year, I doubt it. Probably next year if everything is back to normal.

“That would be in the Premiership. I probably, definitely wouldn’t drop down to the Championship. Not yet. I’m not that old!”