MATT Ford explained how the lack of definitive answers over Darcy Ward’s condition is being dictated by the “impossible” task of ascertaining his long-term prognosis.

In an emotional address at Wimborne Road following Wednesday’s victory over King’s Lynn, the Poole Pirates promoter revealed Ward, who suffered spinal injuries in a crash in Poland 12 days ago, had regained some movement in his arms.

In line with the wishes of Ward’s family, Ford did not elaborate on his condition but said that various assessments were ongoing while physiotherapists work with the 23-year-old.

Ford told the Daily Echo: “Darcy had further X-rays on Tuesday and an MRI scan on Wednesday. I spoke to his brother on Tuesday after Neil (Middleditch, Poole manager) and I had come back from spending a couple of days with him.

“It is very hard seeing someone you care about so much in the position that Darcy is in. All we can say is there is hope and ask everyone to make it your last prayer about him before you go to sleep at night.

“If everyone’s wishes are granted, he will certainly bounce back but the reality is that it is a long, hard road. At the moment it is impossible, even for the medics round him, to know exactly what position he is in.

“We can say he is much happier being back in Britain and in his surroundings, as are his family. It is a quite excellent hospital but it is a long haul. We have to hope fate is going to be kind in this case.”

Meanwhile, Ford lifted the lid on how the devastation within the Pirates camp had brought him close to prematurely ending the club’s 2015 campaign.

“I contacted Neil and asked how we could possibly rally the troops when the two generals (Chris Holder and Davey Watt) were broken,” he added.

“That was how I felt. I know how Neil is and how he feels about everything. You need someone to pick people up and if it was hard for him or me to do that for the team, I felt we would have been letting people down.

“But three or four more days passed and we had the same conversation again. At that point we accepted that speedway is our sport. For everyone connected with the club, it is a testing time and will be for a long time to come but we have a duty to our sport.

“The truth is we did consider pulling out. I know some people will find that hard to understand but it was just that Neil and I in particular have worked for an incredible amount of time with Darcy off the track and he genuinely is a son to Neil having lived with him for the past four years.

“Neil has spent more time with Darcy than anyone else so it is very hard to pick ourselves and the team up but there is something about a speedway rider. When they put on their helmets and go to the tapes, they just want to win.

“We can only hope the lads respond in the same manner and I feel confident they will.”

A conversation with four-time speedway world champion Barry Briggs, who has raised tens of thousands of pounds for wheelchair-bound riders, also helped persuade Ford to continue to club’s push for a third straight Elite League crown.

“Barry said the one thing every wheelchair-bound rider he had come across would do if they could walk again would be to put their legs straight over a speedway bike. That is the way it is,” said Ford.

Middleditch, present throughout the interview, added: “I would like the world to stop, go back to that Sunday and for Darcy to not go out in heat 15 but that cannot happen.

“You walk away from people who are happy and laughing about day-to-day things thinking ‘how dare you be so happy after something so sad?’ but as horrible and hard as it is, you have to realise life goes on. As terrible as this week has been, we have to carry on.

“Because it is so close, because he has been like my kid and because Matt has looked after him from day one, it is so difficult.

“We have had horrible instances where people have lost their lives or had their lives changed by injury but they weren’t like my son. That’s why it hurts, and because he would have been the best rider ever.”

  • Ford expressed the gratitude of Ward, his family and the club for the messages of support and donations received to help pay for his care, particularly as bringing him back to England and subsequent medical expenses had already cost in the region of £50,000.

To contribute towards Ward's official fund, visit: https://pledgie.com/campaigns/30061