PIRATES reject Magnus Zetterstrom has publicly stressed his surprise at the way the club have handled his departure from Wimborne Road.

The Swedish showman answered Poole Meri-dian Lifts' SOS last month to replace injured Grzegorz Walasek, who was expected to be out for up to six weeks with a broken ankle.

At the same time Poole promoters Matt Ford and Mike Golding told Zorro, as he is affectionately known by the Pirates faithful, that the deal was expected to be until the end of the season.

But for that to happen, it would have meant Hans Andersen being dropped.

However, Andersen, who was really struggling earlier in the season, has turned his form round dramatically and is now an integral part of the team again.

So Zetterstrom is on his way out - it is believed probably on loan to either Peterboro-ugh or Ipswich - when he was led to believe he would be at Wimborne Road until October.

Zetterstrom, who originally signed for Pirates in 1996, said: "I know the score and also that the club will do all they can to help me out with finding a new British track.

"But I just feel deep down that once again I help them out and then they throw me to one side again.

"It is hard because I would love to ride for Poole every week in every meeting. That is the set up I had.

"They should have said three weeks ago as soon as Greg had proved his fitness in Poland that he would be coming back and told me what was happening.

"I'm not saying I am a big Speedway star and that I should be in the team because I am not a big star. Also everyone needs to fight for their place and show they deserve it.

"But I am disappointed with the way the club have handled this."

Zetterstrom, who only got three paid four points in Poole's 51-39 home win over Ipswich on Wednesday, added: "Speedway is business and I fully understand that.

"Sometimes, though, you just wish that it wasn't and that you could ride for whoever you wanted. Sometimes you wish the averages were different as well, that they didn't have to affect the make up of teams like they do.

"Having said that, I don't want to come across as being angry at the club because everyone in Poole's team deserves their place.

"There is no way they can say we'll drop him and put Magnus in. It is a good team. They are all good riders.

"I was told on Wednes-day that I was out and that was not fair on me or the club's supporters. I earn money on the points I score and this situation should have been sorted out a long time ago, not in the last few days.

"I don't have any excuses for my poor performance on Wednesday. But after finding out I had not got a team place from next Wednesday onwards, I wasn't in the right frame of mind to ride.

"That is behind me now though. I am not going to sit down and cry about it.

"It will take me a while to forgive Poole but speedway is all I want to do.

"I will try to show them they have made a wrong choice, although even if I sign for another club, it won't be the same as riding for Poole.

"It has cost me more than I have been paid to ride for Poole this past month and I will never get any regular sponsorship if they don't know whether I am in or out.

"My message to the Poole fans is 'I know you are behind me'. I really appreciate that.

"I'm intending to prove to the promoters they are wrong so that one day I will get the chance to spend a full season with Poole again.

"I'd also like to thank the people who have helped me out this season with sponsorship. They are brilliant."