PROMOTER Danny Ford welcomed the focus on youth development in British speedway, admitting Poole Pirates “haven’t been pulling their weight” in recent years.

A big focus of the annual general meeting towards the end of 2023 saw clubs agree to do more to protect the future of the sport.

As such, each club in the top two tiers must now sign up to at least one of three schemes in the 2024 campaign.

They can either run a team in the National Development League, commit to hosting an event in the new National Individual series, or take part in a youth programme to be run in the second halves following senior meetings.

While Pirates have not yet fully decided which route to go down, Ford has welcomed the changes.

He told the Daily Echo: “I truly do believe that certain clubs haven’t been pulling their weight and that does include Poole unfortunately.

“We haven’t necessarily always given youth opportunities.

“It hasn’t really been the height of our priority. Probably wrongly so, but we have a slightly different situation at Poole to a lot of other clubs, which I won’t go into, but we have our reasons.

“It’s not something we’re actively against, it’s just never really been something we’ve been able to accomplish and do feasibly.

“But now with the ideas of the formats that are coming forward and the tiered structure of what you can offer, and making it mandatory, gives everyone a little bit of a kick and incentive to do it, because it will be mandatory across the board.

“I certainly think it’s a good thing and something we’re going to embrace at Poole and do our bit for the future of British speedway.”

Pirates’ 2024 schedule begins with a testimonial meeting for Kyle Newman, which has been brought forwards and will now take place on Wednesday, March 13 (7.30pm).