SWINDON’S Lee Smart has confirmed he has called time on his speedway career after being dumped by Poole Pirates last week.

Smart, who had enjoyed a relatively long career at National League level before being picked up by Poole in the Fast Track draft this winter, struggled to perform at Wimborne Road and only managed eight points in five meetings.

Smart had cut a dejected figure during Pirates’ victory over Birmingham at the end of last month, a meeting which proved to be the last of his career.

He told the Advertiser: “It is a tough one because I spent a lot of money this year for only a few meetings, which is really hard to take, and I really wasn’t happy with how things ended.

“It (the draft) definitely needs some changes because it has worked out for some people and really not for others. It didn’t work for me.

“I have pulled the plug on speedway now. I have quit completely because I have had enough of all the politics and the rubbish which goes with it.

“The whole season was awful because I was let down in the National League by not getting enough meetings and things didn’t go well in the Elite League either.

“I wasn’t going to ride at all this year and I wish I had stuck to my guns in the first place.”