HEATHENS have made two team changes in time for their trip to the Isle of Wight next Tuesday.

Richard Franklin has been told to sit out the next month at least with a torn ligament in his knee after aggravating it in his opening ride at King’s Lynn. He could yet need surgery.

And reserve Danny Stoneman has been released by the former Cradley club and replaced by Adam Portwood who celebrates his 16th birthday on Friday (July 1).

The club have also signed Brendan Johnson from the Isle of Wight and he will make his Heathens debut as a replacement for Franklin back at his former club.

Heathens boss Will Pottinger said: “Richard’s injury is a blow, he also has a cyst at the top of the knee as well as the ligament damage and he was hoping to put the operation off until the end of the season.

“We have been very fortunate to have Brendan on board so quickly, we were thinking about him during the winter and he is a former British Under-18 Champion.

“The management also decided to cast an eye towards the future with Adam Portwood at 16-years of age and we have to start looking at working with our own riders rather than trying to find riders from elsewhere all the time.

“Adam and ourselves will see how it goes and talk again at the end of the season regarding the future.

“In the meantime we wish Danny Stoneman all the very best and hope he gets fixed up elsewhere as soon as possible. We thank him for his efforts.

“It’s been a hectic day but we are looking forward to welcoming Adam and Brendan and I am sure the Heathens fans will make them particularly welcome at our next home meeting against Newport at Wolverhampton on Tuesday, July 12.”