NEIL Middleditch has admitted he has no axe to grind with Pirates new boy Hans Andersen.

Poole Castle Cover’s team manager fell out with the Dane over his antics in the final heat of the 2004 World Cup Final when Middleditch was Great Britain boss.

The two didn’t speak for months after Middleditch felt Andersen got in the way of Scott Nicholls on purpose, thereby allowing Peter Karlsson to go clear and clinch the trophy for Sweden in an acrimonious last-heat decider at Poole.

Andersen, whose Danish side went into the race already out of the running for the silverware, has always rigourously denied the claim, saying he suffered engine problems.

But Middleditch, whose side lost by an agonising one point to finish runners-up, has said he can work with the Dane again for the first time in seven years.

The duo had helped Pirates lift the Craven Shield together in 2001 and 2002 during Andersen’s first two years in British speedway before he moved on to Peterborough, Ipswich and Coventry.

Middleditch, whose current struggling side sit one place off the bottom of the Elite League, said: “At the time of an incident like that, emotions are very heated, and they were for some time afterwards.

“But it happened and you have to look forward for the good of the club.

“I have no axe to grind with Hans. It’s in the past.

“We have to look forward because my main aim is getting Poole speedway going forward again, and if Hans is instrumental in that, the more pleased I will be.

“He is a very good rider, a world class rider.

“We know he has ability, so it would make us a stronger team.”