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SHEFFIELD owner Neil Machin has reported positive news on injured Tigers asset Ricky Ashworth after a hospital visit this week.Machin says Ashworth is determined to shorten whatever recovery time-frames are set for him, having come out of a 91-day coma earlier this month following a track crash at Scunthorpe.Machin said: “We were very impressed with Ricky’s progress and his enormous development since our last visit, and as we entered the ward we were greeted with that familiar Ricky Ashworth smile followed by a solid handshake.“His intensive physiotherapy and specialist attention is bringing Ricky on in leaps and bounds and to see a smile back on his dad’s face was indeed a great experience, and something we will remember forever.”

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BIRMINGHAM boss Phil Morris has resigned with immediate effect.The Perry Barr outfit finished top of the Elite League for the first time in their history in Morris’s first full season in charge, before missing out on the title in the play-off Grand Final.Morris informed the club of his decision, which was based on off-track issues, late on Thursday night.He said: “I have enjoyed working with Graham Drury, Danny King has been a superb captain to work with and the riders were superb. I take my hat off to them all.“I wish Birmingham all the very best for the future and the club will always be special to me. Who knows, if things change there, I could even return one day.”