STOKE Potters have added to their asset base by signing Tim Webster and Tony Atkin on full contracts from Newport.

Veteran Atkin, aged 44, and Webster, aged 22, are at opposite ends of the age and experience scale but both turned in a solid 2011 season at Loomer Road and promoter Dave Tattum sees the deals as good short and long-term business for the Potteries club.

"Both riders showed so much commitment over the season and represent good business in terms of boosting our asset base," said the promoter. "It was no secret Tony Atkin wanted another season (he moved from Stoke to Newport in 2003 with Tom Brown moving in the opposite direction) before he finished his career but that seemed unlikely while we were in the Premier League.

"Our decision to change leagues created that chance and Tony did well for us.

"He was the leader of the pack, a rider that everyone looked up to and while he would have preferred not to have the injuries he had, he turned in a season that both he and Stoke speedway were pleased with.

"If Tony is approaching the end of his career, Tim (Webster) is a rider for the present and the future.

"He did a lot of practice here in his early days with Phil Morris as his mentor and he has always rode the track quite well.

"Tim came on well last season and many would say there is more to come. He is very supportive of this club but is just as keen to establish himself in a higher league and it was the right time to bring him in as a club asset.

"It was a tough decision to switch from the Premier League to the National League but we always said that we needed to stabilise in many ways.

"We did that to a degree and hopefully the supporters can see we are actively planning ahead for the future by bringing in good riders as club assets."