WALES A outside half Jason Strange is set to join Newport -- without kicking a ball for new club Pontypool.

Strange quit Ebbw Vale this month, wanting a change of club and unwilling to go through another period of major rebuilding.

Ebbw Vale refused to transfer him to another Premier Division club, but then Pontypool stepped in and signed him on a one-year contract.

But the story is taking another twist and he could soon be a Newport player. Though at Pontypool for their friendly against Pontypridd on Saturday, he played half a game for Newport at Bristol yesterday.

"We asked Pontypool to give permission for us to play him and they agreed," said Newport team manager Jim McCreedy.

"We were interested in Jason, but the complication was Ebbw Vale refused to do any business, though it was obvious he wanted to leave.

"He's transferred to Pontypool, but if a situation arose with them that something could be done we'd deal with it."

First published on Monday 13 August 2001: