POOLE boss Danny Ford insists there is “no pressure” on new signing Vinnie Foord.
The Sussex-born 17-year-old will line-up alongside freshly-crowned British Under-21 Sam Hagon following the release of Max Perry by the Pirates.
Foord began his professional career at Eastbourne just a few miles from his Hailsham base.
Following the Seagulls’ withdrawal from the National League along with the Championship Eagles due to financial problems, he moved first to Kent and then Leicester where he has made a strong start with the unbeaten Lion Cubs.
News of his signing as a replacement for fellow teenager Perry, began to circulate during Sunday’s British Under-21 Final at Ashfield where Foord was one of the surprise packages as he rattled up an entertaining 11-point haul and qualified for the semi-final.
Pirates chief Ford said: “I know another Championship club approached him that night, but we’d already done the deal. So good timing for us.
“Obviously it is a bit of a pressure cooker at Poole. We do expect results.
“Initially there’s going to be no pressure on Vinnie, but we just need to see that continual improvement and if we see that and based on what we’ve already seen and know of Vinnie, he’s very keen.
“Hopefully he can push on and develop.”
Perry admitted he was devastated with the news but Pirates owner Matt Ford was quick to praise the youngster.
He added: “Things have not quite worked out with Max as he has struggled to get near the minimum two point average. He has been very unfortunate not to have had more meetings, due to the heavily interrupted schedule and, due to the structure of the NDL, has had far too few meetings at that level which would undoubtedly have helped build his confidence.
“It is not necessarily the end of the line as far as his Poole career is concerned and we will see how things pan out.
“All I can ask of our supporters is that they embrace Vinnie in the manner which they did with Max.
“He is another young rider, just nine months older than Max, and showed what he is capable of by finishing sixth place on Sunday.”
Words by George Dodds.
Images by Taylor Lanning.