Steve Diamond concedes Adam Radwan exit 'may not wash well' with Newcastle fans

Newcastle boss Steve Diamond has revealed England wing Adam Radwan had “three or four” offers before he asked to quit the Falcons and immediately join Leicester Tigers as a replacement for Anthony Watson, who has been forced out of the game by a back injury.

Diamond confirmed to RugbyPass that Falcons received a transfer fee and compensation for the fact Radwan had another year of his current contract to run. Diamond also threw light on the conversation he had with the other members of the club’s rugby board who wanted Radwan to complete the season at Kingston Park, but the director of rugby won the argument and will now use that money to buy a top-class player to either replace hooker Jamie Blamire, who is also joining Leicester, or Pumas lock Pedro Rubiolo, who has moved to Bristol Bears, the club’s opponents on Sunday at Ashton Gate.

Diamond will shortly inform the 27 players that he wants to keep of their new contracts, while telling 10 members of the current squad they will leaving, joining the 22 players that he let go at the end of last season.

Despite the loss of Radwan, the club’s third international to announce they are quitting or have left, Diamond is confident that Newcastle can attract new investors to replace current owner Semore Kurdi, who has pumped more than £20m into Falcons.

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Diamond said: “Compensation and salary saved are important at the moment and I can use that money to bring another player in.

“When a player of Adam’s ability comes to see you and is contracted but wants to show his wares elsewhere – and there were three or four clubs who approached us – we initially resisted that but it’s the right thing for him. We are in a transition period and I spoke to Semore and agreed it was right for him to go. We haven’t had much success for four or five years and it does wear thin for people.

“I could have convinced him to stay until the end of the season but I put myself in his shoes and said how would I want to be advised? I have a duty of care for young guys like him and it may not wash well with our supporters. It is a sad day and Adam came to see me when I first joined and has been really honest with me and Adam was part of the blueprint I have for the club but he has asked the question and it is right for him to go.”