BIRMINGHAM Speedway have parted company with Ulrich Ostergaard with immediate effect.

Ostergaard rode for the club for the final time in Sunday's win at Mildenhall - and his replacement has already been confirmed as another Dane, Henning Bager, who will make his debut against Redcar on Wednesday.

The decision has been taken as a result of Ostergaard's reluctance to commit himself to racing for the Brummies, as after Thursday's meeting at the Isle Of Wight he was still keen to take a position as a reserve in the European Championship event in his home country - a meeting won by Henrik Moller.

Promoter Graham Drury explained: "Before I agreed the fixture change with Mildenhall to go to West Row on Sunday, I spoke to all of the riders who confirmed they were available.

"Three weeks ago Ulrich informed me that he was second reserve for the European Championship meeting - but I could not believe that he wanted to sit in the pits there rather than ride for his club, and I checked with (Danish manager) Jan Staechmann that he was not required to attend that event.

"He then reluctantly agreed to ride at Mildenhall, but a week ago he informed me that he was now the first reserve and wanted to go back to Denmark.

"That was not acceptable to Birmingham Speedway, and I double-checked the situation with Jan again. We would have had a facility for him, but that's not the point. We give riders so many meetings in England, and I could not accept him being there just as reserve rather than riding for us.

"As late as Thursday night after the Isle of Wight meeting he was adamant that he was going to Denmark, and I gave him the ultimatum that if he did so, his services would be dispensed with.

"It took over half an hour to convince him to ride for us today, but on the ferry back I came to the decision that I would not allow Birmingham Speedway to be held to ransom, and therefore I would make a change.

"I would like to thank Ulrich for his contribution, he is a terrific rider who has always given 100 per cent, and I will help in any way I can to get him fixed up elsewhere.

"It's been a far from easy decision and I realise how popular Ulrich is, but I hope the fans will understand the reasons why I have made this move. We should not even have been discussing the possibility of him missing a Birmingham meeting to be a reserve elsewhere.

"I like Ulrich and I wish him well for the future, but we now welcome Henning to the club and I am sure he will be giving his all for the Brummies."

Bager, 26, has been without a team place in the UK after unluckily losing his position with Elite League Lakeside after the Purfleet club made wholesale changes to the structure of their line-up.

He has also ridden for Peterborough in the top flight and has experience of the Premier League circuits from his time with Glasgow and the Isle of Wight.