Story of Watson 'is stuff of movies'

SPORTING director Kristjaan Speakman has described Tommy Watson's rise at Sunderland from academy to Wembley as "a Hollywood story.

- By CLIVE YOULTON Football writer

The club's transfer guru went so far as to laud Watson for the way he handled a difficult few weeks after his switch to Brighton & Hove Albion was confirmed.

That move was confirmed in April and the announcement led to criticism of the player and boos from some supporters.

But Speakman has told reporters that Watson dealt with the situation in a mature way and that his dedication to the cause of trying to get the club promoted never wavered.

"With Tommy's situation, we got to a point where a certain decision was made and I've always said that we want to try and be open and honest with our communication to supporters," said Speakman, reflecting on Sunderland's decision to make Watson's move to Brighton public a couple of months out.