Owner Ford explains why Poole Pirates will not currently compete in SGB Premiership

Poole Pirates owner Matt Ford did not rule out the possibility of a return to the top flight of British Speedway but added: “At this point in time, it wouldn't be right for us to go.”

Pirates are set to compete in their sixth season at SGB Championship level this season, with the riders and fixture list confirmed for the 2026 campaign.

Six teams will line up in the SGB Premiership this year, with the announcement earlier this week confirming that Northampton would join the league as a new promotion.

Ford made the decision or Poole to drop down to the Championship in 2019, having first competed in the second tier in 2021 due to the Coronavirus Pandemic wiping out the British season in 2020.

Since then, Poole have won the league four times in five years. With their owner frequently asked about the possibility of stepping back up to the Premiership.

Speaking to the Speedway Star, Ford said: "I have always said 'never say never'. At this point in time, it wouldn't be right for us to go.

"We came out of the Premiership at the end of 2019 due to the television contract being very poor at the time and the fact we had to race on a Monday or Thursday. Our business had run predominantly on Wednesdays throughout our entire history.

"Going to a Thursday, our crowds went down by 22 per cent, and we actually came top of the league in 2019.

“We were winning far more matches than anyone else and we were incredibly successful up to the play-offs, when we lost to Ipswich. But seeing your crowds dwindle by over 20 per cent shows there is something clearly wrong.

"There are two criteria essentially for Poole to go back up. One is that we would be allowed to ride on a Wednesday, which I don't foresee being a problem currently.

"Then, there would also have to be some form of funding from a TV contract. If television was back involved and we were allowed to run on a Wednesday night, that really is my criteria.”