SOMERSET have made two surprise team changes ahead of Wednesday’s SGB Premiership clash with Pirates at the Oaktree Arena.

The Rebels have brought in Claus Vissing for Charles Wright, while Jonas Jeppesen has been replaced by Nico Covatti.

The decision to release Wright – but not Jeppesen – related to a difference of opinion with team boss Garry May during last week’s 49-41 win over Wolverhampton.

May told the club website: “Certain things happened which meant I found myself in an untenable position if I left things as they were.

“As team manager, it is of utmost importance to have the respect of the riders one works with and while I am not claiming all decisions I make are the right ones, any I do make I expect to be honoured by the riders.

“I do sympathise with riders when I ask them to sit out a race as I understand it can cost them money. But my job is to act in the best interests of the team and that should be accepted.

“Charles didn’t see things the same way and sadly we reached an impasse and I had to do something to maintain team spirit.

“I felt I could not risk losing the character of the majority of our team and so had to look elsewhere.”