Aidy to 'wheel and deal'
3:31am Friday 16th May 2008
AIDY BOOTHROYD is facing the prospect of having to sell before he can buy as he sets about reshaping his Watford squad over the summer and altering their style of play following this week's play-off disappointment.
The Hornets' hopes of bouncing back from Sunday's 2-0 first leg reversal and setting up a £60m winner-takes-all showdown with Bristol City at Wembley next weekend were dashed by Hull City on Wednesday night, who claimed a flattering 6-1 aggregate victory.
Following the harsh 4-1 second leg defeat at the KC Stadium Boothroyd revealed that he needs to see "where we can raise some money". This comes after chairman Graham Simpson's admission that cuts in expenditure would be required if the club did not return to the Premiership at the first attempt, although it is not yet clear what "Plan B" will involve.
But Boothroyd's need to "wheel and deal" following the failure to achieve promotion will probably mark the end of several players' careers at Vicarage Road.
Dan Shittu and Nathan Ellington are among Watford's more saleable assets and would command significant transfer fees. Both have been linked with moves back to the top-flight in the past, with Boothroyd rebuffing an approach from Paul Jewell - Ellington's former boss at Wigan Athletic - to take him to Derby County in January.
It is understood the likes of Damien Francis, Will Hoskins, Matt Jackson and Mart Poom could be moved on as the Hornets manager seeks to reduce the wage bill, while questions have also been raised over Jay DeMerit's future. The American centre-half was restored to the starting line-up at Hull after Shittu was ruled out with a hamstring injury, but his opportunities have been limited since Leigh Bromby was signed in the last transfer window.
But while the fans wait and see who will be coming and going during what promises to be, by the manager's own admission, a busy summer, many will be heartened by his admission that the Hornets need to change how they play. And perhaps with the criticism he has received from some quarters in mind, Boothroyd will also be aiming to entertain.
"We do need to adapt and change and be cuter in what we do," said the manager on Wednesday night. "We've been successful with what we have done but all good things come to an end. It will be a very, very busy summer and we'll need to nail things down in pre-season, but hopefully we'll win and entertain.
"I'll have to be a Del Boy and do a bit of wheeling and dealing," he continued. "It may be a case of starting again for us. We need to take a good look at ourselves, but we'll be alright because we've got a core of good staff, a core of good players and good youngsters."
Despite the five-goal margin of defeat in the play-offs, there were encouraging signs in both games that the shift towards a more passing-based approach could be productive in the long-term with Watford's flair players, in particular, given greater licence to express themselves.
"There is work to be done on the style as we conceded four goals but we've got a good foundation," remarked Boothroyd after the second leg. "We have had to change what we do because it wasn't working.
"Should it have changed earlier? Perhaps but it takes months and months and we had to change mainstays of the side like Gav and Marlon. We will come back early in pre-season and work at how we are going to play.
"Maybe it's time to build a new team, get a few in and get a few out. I like winning and I like entertaining, but it's about understanding and making decisions at right times. But we are going to have a crack at it.
"I've got to look at the squad, see what needs adjusting and maybe be a bit more ruthless.
"I need to have an assessment of players we have got and see where we can raise some money and perhaps give youth its head. We've got Tamas, Theo, Al Bangura, O'Toole, Ainsworth and Loach. They have all got a really good chance.
"I've got some decisions to make but my aim is to entertain and win. And that's what we'll look to do," the Watford boss added.