Kami Carpenter, 21, and Remy Gordon, 22, have been charged with killing the 23-year-old at the Crane nightclub in Birmingham, just before midnight on Boxing Day.

Gordon, of Cofton Park Drive, Birmingham, and Carpenter, of no fixed address, today appeared at Birmingham Crown Court.

Judge Paul Farrer KC ordered a trial in the case to start on 3 July.

He also fixed a plea and trial preparation hearing for 17 March.

Gordon and Carpenter were both remanded in custody.

Mr Fisher, 23, who played for Stratford Town FC, was stabbed to death on the dance floor of the Crane nightclub in Digbeth shortly before 11.45pm on Boxing Day.

The nightclub had its licence suspended for 28 days on Friday following accusations from West Midlands Police that there had been "serious management failings" at the venue on the night Mr Fisher died.

Birmingham city councillors said they will consider whether to close the club permanently at a full review hearing in the future.

Officers recovered a knife from the scene, and a post-mortem examination confirmed that Mr Fisher, 23, died of a stab wound.