King's Lynn Stars boss Rob Lyon makes wholesale changes

King's Lynn Stars and Great Britain manager Rob Lyon

Lyon led the Stars to a second Premier League treble in 2009

King's Lynn stars will have a new look when they face Redcar Bears in the Premier League on Tuesday.

Team manager Rob Lyon has taken the drastic step of replacing five of his seven riders mid-season.

Kevin Doolan, Chris Mills, Caspar Wortmann, Joe Haines and Darren Mallett have all been released.

Olly Allen returns, Adam Roynon and Lasse Bjerre have signed, while Jamie Courtney and Cal McDade step up from the Young Stars line-up.

Team manager Rob Lyon told BBC Radio Norfolk the changes had been made for a number of reasons.

He said: "A combination of things have forced us down this road; riders with a lack of confidence, out of form and injury as well.

"We felt we needed to freshen things up and we've come out the other end with quite a few changes, some of which were forced upon us."

A long-term injury to Doolan is just the latest of a number of injuries this season, but Lyon says replacing his average score in the team has allowed him some freedom.

"We've had quite a few [injuries], I think we've used rider-replacement a lot last year and certainly most of this year, or so it feels," he said.

"Kevin's injury is a major blow to us, but at a time when we were looking at potentially doing something with the team.

"With his average as it was we were forced to make a major change and a major reshuffle to bring in a new number one."

Norwich-born Allen comes in from Ipswich Witches as the new number one, with an average of 9.8, while Lyon is excited about his new number three, Danish 16-year-old Lasse Bjerre.

"His older brother is Kenneth Bjerre who rides for Peterborough, a world class rider, and Lasse's got the pedigree to be just as good," he said.

"Reports are that he's a good level already. We're not expecting him to come in all guns blazing, but he's one for the future and we're looking towards 2011."

Meanwhile Roynon joins from parent club Coventry Bees, after riding for Workington earlier in the season.

The Stars new line-up: Olly Allen (9.80), Adam Roynon (5.71), Lasse Bjerre (7.00), Kozza Smith (6.49), Tomas Topinka (7.41), Jamie Courtney (3.00) and Cal McDade (3.00).