PROMOTER Danny Ford revealed Poole were in “final discussions” with a rider to replace Adam Ellis after he had to pull out of Pirates’ 2021 septet.

Ellis had been set to be part of Poole’s team for 2020, before the season had been wiped out due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He was initially in the club’s plans for the upcoming campaign, but his commitments in Europe would not allow him to compete in England.

Discussing the 24-year-old’s departure from Wimborne Road, Ford told the Daily Echo: “More so than anything, it’s the rules that have been imposed by the Polish authorities. They have such a hold on speedway at the minute.

“With Adam being in the second tier in Poland – he’s only allowed to ride for two other clubs.

“We were trying to convince him to come back to England but with Swindon dropping out of the Premiership, he’s decided to not ride in England this year.

“He will be representing his respective teams in Denmark and Sweden, alongside his Polish commitments.

“It’s a huge blow for us. Adam is one of the top up-and-comers in terms of British speedway and I think he has shown that by the fact he is one of the few young Brits who has got a Polish contract.

“Since he started out for us in 2016 at reserve, he has come on leaps and bounds under Swindon. He has won a few league titles with them and it just goes to show his quality.”

Ford added: “Once these Polish rules were put into effect, we were trying to keep in constant dialogue with Adam.

“He was unsure what the Danish season was going to look like and whether it was going to be worth his time riding in Denmark.

“There was always the option where he might have started out the season with us and then gone to Denmark once their season started.

“But with Swindon dropping out of the Premiership, it kind of put a close on that possibility.”

Asked whether plans had been put in place for a replacement, Ford said: “We always look to put a competitive team out and this year will be no different.

“We are in final discussions with a rider, who I’m sure will not disappoint once we do announce him in the next couple of weeks.”

Poole are also set to make a change at reserve for the upcoming campaign, with the club having to name one ‘rising star’ British rider in their ranks.