SHANES BLOW FOR BRUMMIES

BIRMINGHAM’S Wednesday night task against reigning Championship holders Poole has been made tougher with James Shanes ruled out.

Popular Shanes is on the sidelines for nine days under the concussion rule after crashing in a grasstrack meeting at the weekend.

Boss Laurence Rogers said: “Shanesy is a big miss for us on Wednesday and for the trip to Redcar, but he should be back for the Berwick meeting at home next week.

“As a team manager you dread getting a text notification when you know one of the boys is riding somewhere, but thankfully it seems nothing is broken and he should be fine.

“We have no alternative but to use the rider replacement facility.”