He was the notable omission from the elite national nine-member umpiring panel in the summer of 2013-14 but had opted to keep his silence.
"It's disappointing as I could have had one more season because 25 seems to be a nice, round number to finish," says the former NZ Post administrator who presided over more than 300 first-class and List A domestic matches in his career.
"The Bowden dumping took them [NZCUSA] by surprise then and I got the heave-ho," he says with a laugh, adding if Bowden hadn't had a bad spell internationally NZCUSA would have renewed his contract.
The 52-year-old Aucklander, who captured the imagination of cricket lovers with zany exaggerated hand signals punctuated by a bent finger as a result of rheumatoid arthritis, was dropped from the ICC elite panel of umpires for the second time in three years last June.
His flamboyancy gave way to the advent of former Otago Volts opening batsman Chris Gaffaney to savour an elite existence in 2015-16 alongside a crop of others from England, Australia, India, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka.
After bowing out of the domestic scene in 2007, Gaffaney, 40, made a meteoric rise to the international arena in 2010 to now sit on six test matches, 43 ODIs and 15 T20 internationals.
A product of club level umpiring, Watkin has his reservations about a system that "fast-tracks" younger officials but emphasises Gaffaney "is an example of it working quite well".
"Us ordinary umpires coming through club level have had to accept fast-trackers coming through."
He says another former Otago first-class player, Derek Walker, 56, of Oamaru, is deserving of his international call up, albeit six ODIs and seven T20s.
The pair's ability to officiate without becoming "buddies with players" and "who make decisions very well" are catalysts of their success.
Watkin made the ICC international panel in 1994-95 to make his debut in the India v South Africa ODI at Seddon Park, Hamilton, in February.
He says in England it is almost impossible to become an elite umpire unless one is a former county player.
Richard Kettleborough, of England, is an example of an ex-county player who presided with him in his final international game between the Black Caps and Bangladesh at McLean Park, Napier, in 2011.
"In New Zealand most players don't want to become umpires because they've had just about enough after having played the game [at domestic level]."
Watkin made his national debut at the U19 Nationals at Nelson Park, Napier, in 1984-85 before rising to the NZCUSA second-tier panel in 1987 for two summers.
He was promoted to first-class level in 1989-90 before retiring from that level in 2012-13.
"After 24 [seasons] at first-class level you're obviously getting to the age where they start thinking you're past your prime."
Ironically, it was at his 135th and final first-class match that he received his only 10 out of 10 rating from the then losing Auckland captain in his final report, taking to task McHarg's "form" verdict to suggest he was a victim of ageism.
"I didn't even know it was my last game at the time," he says of his axing to accommodate Bowden.
Watkin agrees umpires, akin to players, can become entrenched in their views when retirement beckons.
That is why he admires the decision of Brendon McCullum to retire as a Black Cap and skipper.
"He could have continued for one, two or even three seasons but his back is also an issue.
"He knows what he wants although two years from now he may wonder if he retired too soon but only time will tell," he says.
