PIRATES chief Matt Ford has quickly held his hands up high and admitted it was his mistake in thinking Chris Neath was eligible to line up at number eight for the Dorset club.

The Wimborne Road supremo revealed to the Echo late on Monday the Rye House asset would provide back up cover to the Elite League champions.

But within hours of making the announcement, Ford realised the experienced 27-year-old’s top-flight average of 3.54 was just too high for him to squeeze into Poole Castle Cover’s squad.

Ford, who only has a maximum figure of 3.49 available to accommodate a number eight, said: “It’s my mistake.

“Chris’s average is just above Kyle Legault’s 3.49 so of course that means he won’t be eligible for us.

“We hadn’t declared the team to the British Speedway Promoters’ Association as a one-to-eight with Neath in it because the error was picked up almost immediately.

“I was hoping to sign Chris but unfortunately due to the rules it’s not possible.

“And we fully understand and endorse the rules because they are there for us all to abide by.

“I had spoken to Chris and he was happy to come, but it’s not possible because his average is a tad too high – just a few decimal points more than Kyle’s.

“I’ve since spoken to another rider with reference to being our number eight and we expect a decision within a few days.”

The mix-up, which is perhaps understandable in a sport which changes it’s rules so frequently, has shades of the Craig Watson debacle of 2008 about it.

He had put pen to paper for Poole so he could ride as a reserve on a 3.00 average, but fans then complained to the BSPA claiming the Australian’s average should really have been 4.11.

The management committee went with the higher figure, despite Poole’s protests and the BSPA’s own website citing Watson’s average as 3.00, and he was not able to ride for the Pirates.

Watson eventually signed for Newport in the Premier League instead.