DORSET racer James Shanes admitted a full transfer to Birmingham had “made sense” after joining from Pirates.

The 21-year-old proved a big hit having linked up with the Brummies in the National League in June last year.

Shanes, who will skipper the Perry Barr side in the Championship in 2019, told the club website: “It made sense as Birmingham is now a home from home.

“From the moment I signed, everyone has been so welcoming and I feel I belong at the club despite 2019 being only my second season there.

“The supporters are probably the nicest I’ve come across and I owe a lot to the management and promotion who have done a lot for my career.

“I’m over the moon to be a part of Birmingham’s new challenge in moving up a league and it feels even better to be doing that as captain and as a full asset.”

The former Kent rider spent his rookie top-flight season at Poole in 2017, scoring a paid maximum on his home debut to help the club win the Premiership Shield.

He went on to put nearly a point on his average and boss Matt Ford labelled the youngster his rider of the year.

Shanes returned to Wimborne Road last season but rode in just five meetings and was replaced by Stefan Nielsen at the start of May.