2:37pm Wednesday 21st May 2008
THE continuing break-up of Newport Wasps seven-strong squad continued last night when Australian ace Craig Watson joined British Premier League rivals Birmingham Brummies.
The 31-year-old, pictured, joins skipper Tony Atkin in walking through the Hayley Stadium exit door following the death of club owner and promoter Tim Stone from a heart attack aged 54 last month.
As exclusively reported in Saturday's Argus, Atkin has joined Berwick Bandits and will make his debut for them in this Saturday's home BPL clash with Scunthorpe while Watson, who replaces Dane Henning Bager, will make his Birmingham bow against visiting King's Lynn on Sunday.
Watson, who finished on the Perry Bar rostrum at Birmingham's grand reopening last year, has linked up with another former Wasps rider, Cwmfellinfach-based Phil Morris.
Wasps riders became available following Stone's death, which has forced Gwent club to sit out the rest of the 2008 BPL campaign.
"I've wanted to sign Craig Watson in the past, he's a rider I rate very highly and I'm pleased to have finally signed him," said Brummies boss Graham Drury.
"I feel very sad about what's happened at Newport and it's a shame to lose them from the BPL and I hope they return next season."
Stone gave Watson his first chance to establish himself in British speedway when he single-handedly brought the sport back to the city in 1997.
He helped Wasps win the British Premier League Trophy in 1999 with a two-legged final success over Edinburgh Monarch and his 58.38 seconds lap at Hayley Stadium on August 3, 2003, remains a record for the tight, 285-metre track.
Even though he has left the Wasps on several occasions to try in luck in the Elite League, Watson remained hugely popular among Newport fans, who welcomed him back with open arms at the start of this season.
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