Well Well,crikey!

Personally i am a a bit cautious, but I know that creepy Colin & co are in favour of the Thai consortium as he wants them to introduce him to some "ladyboys" not my cup of tea at all, but at least it might keep him away from here!

They must be desperate. Very, very desperate.

Not clear if any investment will meamn Simpson departing? I personally like having a fan at the helm..or at least involved. Yes yo the money but not if it means we have to sell out all that is WFC.

I will repost in the next few days my post printed in WO in January 08 regarding the financial and management side of Watford fc and the lack of plan ‘B’, I got it totally right as has Colin on the football side.
It’s obvious to me the loss of Burkinshaw was massive he was the brains and experience behind Boothroyd. Look at the facts? A great first season together followed by not bad in prem with 28 points, (Not stuffed by anybody ‘a la Derby’) had Ashley stayed and King wasn’t injured could have stayed up.
Season 2007/08 beginning Burkinshaw still around 9 points clear (odds on favourites) Boothroyd starting to believe in his I am legend (in his own lunchtime), Boothroyd wanted to do his “thing” Simpson backs Boothroyd some Soviet Union Stalinist reason of personal reasons or health and Burk is gone. The rest is as they say history.
The bottom line is this season in the championship Watford fc with the benefit of the premiership money and £20 million in transfer fees received, had an advantage over every other championship club. The jury is “not out” it has returned a guilty judgement Sentencing awaits!
Simpson’s prediction in the afterglow of a good lunch with some very special mushrooms saying Watford will be top 10 prem club etc etc . If Simpson and Boothroyd were schoolboys, as teacher my final remarks in end of term report would be “Sets mediocre standards and fails to achieve them!”
Boothroyd only by the “skin of his teeth” avoided spending £8million on Ellington & John. How many goals have they both scored remind me?
Only in politics and football can such madness be tolerated or accepted. There isn’t a business in any country in the world accepting this gross incompetence. Even the happy clappers agree the entertainment value is dross.
Boothroyd in his ‘email from Aidy’ yesterday said and I quote “I believe in my players, and I want them to believe that I believe in them.” Want them too? – But do they? (I want to win the lottery but will I?) This is scary too scary for words!
As bad as it is Boothroyd cannot keep his mouth shut, he has no credibility left; he’s in a hole and just keeps digging! If it wasn’t football he could be a case for section 28 and off to the funny farm, delusion is well delusion!
Personal! Dam right its personal! These incompetents have pained me for a long time it hurts big time. Following the Vialli fiasco you think somebody might have learnt something - fat chance!
What really hacks me are these well intentioned happy clappers who blindly follow their useless incompetent leaders. Watford clappers almost certainly same “new labour” clappers who voted for New Labour for 10 years continuously keeping this deluded useless and incompetent labour government in power for 11 years. Needing at least a 100 years to clear up the mess! What’s more a government made up of almost entirely Scots and Northerners living in the South. Yes it’s personal again (sorry PC Brigade)!



Do you see where I am going with this? Scots and Northerners living in the South - I am seriously hacked off with this government and Watford fc. Its pain man – real pain!
The clappers blindly following the blind continue to back these incompetents, the evidence is damming ‘a la new labour’.
Happy Clappers wittering on about being only 10 seasons in highest division in 127 years etc etc. How about 10 years in the last 30 years and 20 in championship? Watford has a budget this season bigger than Rangers in Scotland.
Or Tiger Bay boy what do you expect him (Boothroyd) to say? Well for one - Put his hands up and stop digging. Admit his mistakes, say where it went wrong, ask for forgiveness and another chance and put it right. Cut the Bull and assume there are some Watford fans with an IQ higher than 20! He just may get a little credibility although I doubt it!
Understand that Tiger Boy – Clear enough for you now?
Happy Clappers following Simpson’s rally cry “let’s get behind the team” will obviously not understand this post (luckily for Boothroyd and Simpson)and post their barbarian vitriol towards me well at least it will be in words of one syllable and other clappers can agree!
Finally and I hate myself for it – In the unlikely event of promotion I don’t want it – after this season I could not go through a worse than Derby season scenario in the prem.
The incompetent Simpson and his team and the deluded Boothroyd must go. If they get promoted it will only line their pockets further and value the club higher so the next owner will pay more.
The club is £11 million in debt going into next season (forget the balance sheet equity of players there isn’t any)!
You could not write a fantasy novel this good but it’s not funny – it hurts – it bloody hurts!
The club is now being prostituted on the open market looking for a poor man’s Abramovitch.
Simpson will be off to the Caribbean a whole lot richer, Boothroyd will be managing the youth team in Halifax (Clappers that’s the one in Yorkshire – not Canada) Sorry I forgot he can now buy Halifax!
Clappers are you ready to blindly follow the next lot in the next instalment? put your hand in your pocket now!
Sickening isn’t it? The whole dam thing just turns full circle – Nuremburg what Nuremburg? If anybody cares? – don’t worry about me! - I got my Leonard Cohen collection and my Alexander Solzenitchin – Gulag Archipelago novel moi depressed? Yeah I am actually but it’s ok at least I do get to sleep at nights!

However, when directly asked if Watford had been in discussions with at least one buyer, chairman Graham Simpson said it had had "no discussions" although he added the search for new investors was ongoing.

"I can categorically say we have had no discussions with any investors," he said
However, when directly asked if Watford had been in discussions with at least one buyer, chairman Graham Simpson said it had had "no discussions" although he added the search for new investors was ongoing.

"I can categorically say we have had no discussions with any investors," he said

NOW SEE BBC WEBSITE

headlines says we are in talks ,once again we are treated like mushrooms !!

The article for you


Watford confirm takeover approach


Watford have received "a tentative approach" from a party interested in a takeover, the Championship club's board have confirmed.

However, the play-off chasers have denied that any formal offer has been made or is imminent.

A Hornets statement read: "The board confirms that it is in very preliminary discussions which may or may not lead to an offer being made for the company.

"There is no certainty that any offer will be forthcoming."

More soon.

The Watford Observer, and in particular Kevin Affleck, have taken no end of abuse and criticism for what have been described as 'unsubstantiated' 'trouble-making' and 'negative' stories.

The critics have always said that the WO lies and the club tells the truth.

Here we have a massive story from the WO, which the Chairman pretty well says is not true.

Now, a few hours later, the club release a statement confirming the story.

Would all those who have been so hostile and aggressive towards the WO and KA like to apologise?

Only last week I saw posters condemning the paper for mentioning a potential takeover of Watford in a story about Ashcroft buying more shares in Spurs.

Well, the WO and KA have got this one, a massive story, spot on.

Is that substantiated enough for everyone?

I mean, but for the WO running this story, do you really think the club would have announced anything today?

Congratulations to the WO and KA for doing their job, asking the questions fans wanted asked and giving fans the information they deserve.

I've criticised Kevin Affleck in the past but this is a much better story - properly researched and not just a throwaway remark.

Bl**dy hell big Rog !!
Your keyboard must be really worn out now, get to liverpool and calm down calm down ......
We have got the 2 extremes postin on here at the moment the "hate Boothroyd" and the "love Boothroyd" clans, its like a civil war ....
I am quite happy sitting firmly on the fence !!!!
obviously I am not happy with the performances and style of play but am also realistic about the size of our club and how much worse it has been in the past. I certainly am no happy clapper but also not one of the extreme whingers either .....
interesting stats the i worked out ...
after being 9 points clear in october we have gained only 40 points ...
thats
17 less than the top 3 for the same period CP<WBA<STOKE
we would be 18th if points counted from end of october
only 6 points above 3rd from bottom Southampton ...
lets hope we dont follow them next season ....
but we are still in with a chance and I am going to cheer the boys and Aidy and prey for a miracle and a day trip to Wembley !!!!! Some of my best memories are from the 2 previous Play off finals and we never would have had them with Automatic promotion ... I love the play offs.... so lets wish for really high winds that force us to pass the ball to the final !!!! well we can all hope cant we ........

Vicar Rage wrote:
The Watford Observer, and in particular Kevin Affleck, have taken no end of abuse and criticism for what have been described as 'unsubstantiated' 'trouble-making' and 'negative' stories. The critics have always said that the WO lies and the club tells the truth. Here we have a massive story from the WO, which the Chairman pretty well says is not true. Now, a few hours later, the club release a statement confirming the story. Would all those who have been so hostile and aggressive towards the WO and KA like to apologise? Only last week I saw posters condemning the paper for mentioning a potential takeover of Watford in a story about Ashcroft buying more shares in Spurs. Well, the WO and KA have got this one, a massive story, spot on. Is that substantiated enough for everyone? I mean, but for the WO running this story, do you really think the club would have announced anything today? Congratulations to the WO and KA for doing their job, asking the questions fans wanted asked and giving fans the information they deserve.

Spot on Vicar rage
THIS once and for all should wake up the happy clapper's who just believe everything this club and chairman come out with, THIS blows the chairman's creadability into orbit AND they wonder why everyone is so disinchanted with the going's on at this football club ,personally have never fallen for the spin and look forward to a new leader at the healm because whatever some may say if you really look deep over this tenure it is full of hole's OR should i say BLACK HOLE'S REMEMBER THAT ONE ? and congrats to Kevin and team at WO once again first class journalism and being brave to ask the question unlike others like the limp 3CR commantator

I think the 'throwaway' remark of last week about takeover was quite clearly because the WO knew they had this story coming.

If the Chairman can make these comments and then a matetr of hours later the club release a statement which totally contradicts his answers, what does say about other major information we've been fed?

I've spent a lot of time reading comments on this site in the last few months. And I must say I find a lot of it pretty compelling. A lot of the time the comments reflect my feelings in the aftermath of a defeat or just bad news for the club - frustration, anger, disappointment.

But you know what, after a while calm rationality sets in. i begin to think about what this club has given to me in the last 30 years and in the last 3 years. Lots of satisfaction.

and for that, more recently we have AB and GS to thank. Since mid October there have been a succession of mistakes made. The chairmen, the manager, the fans too. But they mustn't stop us working towards one unified goal. A happy, successful club on and off the field.

I'm of the opinion that in any other circumstance 5th position would be pretty good. It's just the way it's happened that's the problem. This is not an insurmountable problem.

For now, we must all focus on the next 5 games - as one.

Let the review of the season occur at the end of the season. Let the change in style of play (which so obviously is required) occur when there's real time to do it properly.

Let talk about foreign Ukranian investment wait.

Let the recriminations stop. It's just unhealthy for all concerned. Is there anyone out there who doesn't want us to make the play-offs and get promoted?? I don't think so.

So tomorrow give the boys a chance. Frankly i don't care if its a 1-0 win off someone's ear lobe. 3 points is all that counts...

If true, well done KA and WO, brave reporting. If not, trouble ahead maybe. I am amazed at the detail in respect of values. Do I recall some row at the AGM about share options? They would be worth a fortune if any of this actually happens. Serious stuff.
I think I preferred supporting a small town club who I was proud of. I am pretty disgusted to be honest.

I would prefer a Thai takeover - Green Curry pies beter than Ukrainian food, I presume we are talking about the food concessions at Vicarage Road?

But I thought the chairman in the paper TODAY denied these reports..... Have a look at the statement on the club site!

Don't get your knickers in a twist ladies, it's not that big a deal. GS hasn't been 'lying to us all' or 'hiding the truth from the fans'. It reasonable to assume given Watford's position that they could be a takeover target so speculation is always going to be around.

If people enter serious dicussions even 'tentative' ones, WFC by law have to disclose within 2 working days as they have today on the website. When GS made those oft quoted comments (by people on this thread) it seems that at that stage there wasn't much to say but now there is and they have.

If someone just asks or enquires in a general sense, do you expect GS to jump on the phone and tell the world as soon as anything is mentioned and potentially ruin things? Or build up speculation when it may be nothing? He can't sell the club behind anybody's back or anything as it's a PLC. So I can't see how his rep has been blown into orbit as somebody said earlier. He's played it by the book as far as I can see; as have the WO on this one...a good story, with some FACTS in it for a change instead of the bias. Keep it up Kev!

Also, I don't know what AB transfers for CJ andd NE have got to do with anything so we can save that for another story...

I would welcome a Teutonic takeover.

Aidy out , take over talks, bids not accepted for players ( makes a change although not nec. the right decision), boo boys in the Rookery - it must be a newsmans and scummers delight...
The immediate issue is beating SCUNTHORPE.
The players don't hang together or even celebrate a goal properly any more.
Let LB and JE - the two best organisers in my view on the field have the job of motivating the others. Any who don't like or respond to that -don't select.
Remember the Wolves 3 - 0 game and the team that played - we can do it !

Callisto

According to the Watford Leisure PLC website, under rul3 8.3 on the City Code of Takeovers and Mergers, any "interest in 1% or more" of the business "must be publicly disclosed no later than 3.30pm (London time) on the London business day following".

So chairman denies the story right up to the WO deadline last night, and then a statement is rushed out before 3.30 the next day.

Are you suggesting they were contacted, met up, discussed it and decided there was 'tentative' interest in the space of one night?

what growth prospects are there in watford football club. none what so ever, this club is better in the hands of someone who cares. It will always stuggle to break even and go under trying to be something it is not.

From the language used I would not be surprised to find out 'AD' is in fact AB!

As for Rogeruk - I'm afraid I remember the 80s not just as the GT era, but as the time of Thatcherism. Just calling people who disagree with you 'happy clappers' is the kind of cheap ploy Stalinists would use.

Given the choice I would rather see us locally owned and playing decent football outside the Premiership if necessary with a manager we can unite with than all this bickering or a forgein takeover.

I posted a few weeks ago that I'd probably be glad to see the back end of the current regime, nothing changed, we do not have any substantial back room quality or know how, if any takeover goes ahead let's hope that the new owners want to play football on grass and not skyball in the air, that all of the player in the team wear their heart on their sleeve for the Watford cause, and more importantly treat us loyal fans with the respect we deserve and not treat us to the tirade of bullshit that the present lot have over the last few years, well done Watford Observer, you'll be here long after Homer and co have left.

As a thought I have seen people keep referring to HH in their posts is this H Helguson or are they really asking for Hoofroyd and Homer LOL

As a thought I have seen people keep referring to HH in their posts is this H Helguson or are they really asking for Hoofroyd and Homer LOL

I couldn't give a f*** about any of it any more. There, that's my well considered and useful contribution to the debate! Roll on summer.

i assume there has been interest for sometime but no one would have wanted to rock the boat vis a vis the planning permissions by saying we had foreigners in to buy the club. Amazing co incidence as soon as planning permission granted we get a tentative offer.
I imagine it must have been incredibly difficult for AB knowing the club has been up for sale all season. But still no excuse for him making the football on show so incredibly difficult to digest.

john wrote:
i assume there has been interest for sometime but no one would have wanted to rock the boat vis a vis the planning permissions by saying we had foreigners in to buy the club. Amazing co incidence as soon as planning permission granted we get a tentative offer. I imagine it must have been incredibly difficult for AB knowing the club has been up for sale all season. But still no excuse for him making the football on show so incredibly difficult to digest.

I have said all along there was a hidden agenda, and this confirms it!

I am truly sorry for all Watford fans including the clappers, nobody deserves this. I was wrong there was a Plan 'B' now we all know what it was. The atmosphere tomorrow will be weird; I hope Simpson holds his head in shame. I am angry, very angry!!!!!!!!!!!

Vicar Rage wrote:
Callisto According to the Watford Leisure PLC website, under rul3 8.3 on the City Code of Takeovers and Mergers, any "interest in 1% or more" of the business "must be publicly disclosed no later than 3.30pm (London time) on the London business day following". So chairman denies the story right up to the WO deadline last night, and then a statement is rushed out before 3.30 the next day. Are you suggesting they were contacted, met up, discussed it and decided there was 'tentative' interest in the space of one night?

No, that would be silly. What I'm saying is that GS and WFc haven't acted improperly. Why rock the boat until you have to? As I said; the fact that someone has made an approach is not much of a surprise and let's face it, if GS had said it ealier, he'd be accused of 'trying to deflect from Watford's poor form' or 'taking the heat off Aidy' by making something out of nothing. Maybe that's why they tried to get past the deadline (if they did at all).

Talking to investors isn't selling the club down the river, it's called business and it's about time we got serious off the pitch. We are punching obove our weight looking at our infrastructure and that can only last for so long so make hay whuile the sun shines I say!

Callisto - I still don't understand how you can feel with comfortable with the chairman denying flatly any discussions at all yesterday - but then an announcement today that discussions have taken place.

When the WO asked the question, those discussions must have taken place - so what was he gaining by saying otherwise?

I'm not suggesting it's improper - but I do think it is verging on dishonest and morally not very good.

He's managed to deflect the story by a whole half a day.

I do not see what they hoped to gain by acting this way.

I know we are a long way from a deal being done, that's patently obvious.

But the club has clearly been obliged to come out and make a statement - so I am at a loss to understand why they said what they did yesterday, then contradicted themselves today.

That, I don't think, is very good business at all.

Callisto 9000, I so disagree with you! Football is business but it’s also Passion, Dreams and Emotions , not forgetting ethics and morals. You know a club is in trouble when the chairman has in public had to back the manager, this is what they do! It’s called self - preservation. Who is giving the vote of confidence to the Chairman?????

As a PLC Simpson could not disclose anything to anybody (incl' WO) without first advising the stock exchange. Serious penalties if he did. Notice to Exhange would have been after taking professional advice - hence delay. END OF STORY. Stop criticising GS when he is only complying with legal requirements as Chairman of a PLC!!

Winston wrote:

john wrote: i assume there has been interest for sometime but no one would have wanted to rock the boat vis a vis the planning permissions by saying we had foreigners in to buy the club. Amazing co incidence as soon as planning permission granted we get a tentative offer. I imagine it must have been incredibly difficult for AB knowing the club has been up for sale all season. But still no excuse for him making the football on show so incredibly difficult to digest.

I have said all along there was a hidden agenda, and this confirms it!

Bit of a duffer I think Winnie! The rules (and indeed laws) that apply should be simple enough for even you to follow.speculation is not always interest and interest is not always an offer..

bed time children!

Very clever Winnie,hidden agenda to avoid promotion thereby reducing the sale price by at least 2/3 good thinking old chap!

Last Post chaps!

Mr Simpson has always said at forums,etc,that he would consider selling to the right people who could take the club forward.

These issues exist in your minds only.

Though following Watford may be a way of life for fans who post on this board, for the likes of Ashton and Boothroyd working for Watford is only a stage in their career, and owning shares in the club is a business move for Ashcroft and the Russos. For Simpson it is different because he combines the motivation of a business man and a fan. If the right job offer came up for Ashton and Boothroyd--one that would progress their career--they would take it, just as any current Watford player would (e.g. King) If the right share offer came along (and £7 a share is too good to refuse--actually too good to believe) then Ashcroft and the Russo's would sell, even to a Ukranian , a Thai or a Luton supporter. Simpson is the key figure, but in the end is a minority shareholder , at the limit of the resources he can put into the club and maybe at the end of his patience with ungrateful supporters. Most football chairmen, like most Prime Ministers, eventually leave the job fed-up , disillusioned and unpopular. They usually have the last laugh when they realise that there is life after football/politics where they can make money out of the spotlight. I think that at the moment Simpson is doing his best to manage this situation in an honourable way, for the best interests of Watford F.C. , not helped by the spinning of the W.O. , and whatever the outcome he deserves our thanks for that , and for what he done for the club in the past.

RogerUK - in your earlier marathon post you make comment about my post on another thread about "10 seasons of top flight football in 127 years" and label me a Happy Clapper.

Most of those 10 seasons have indeed be in the last 30 years; if you'd taken the time to read the rest of my post, you'd possibly have made suggestions I asked for from those I call "Miserable Boo'ers": who do you want to change things round, how is it going to happen, what criteria for success will you apply, etc.

We are a Club one hour from London & all it's established clubs. We have a core support of no more than 14,000 (inc 11,000 ST holders), play in a stadium we sold-out just FOUR times in TWO Prem seasons in the last 8 years.

I reckon that makes us a medium-sized club (at best) so our most likely comparisons is with Wigan, Bolton, etc. Far bigger clubs than us (Wolves, Ipswich, Norwich, etc) in terms of fan base, size of fan 'catchment area', stadium, season in the top flight, history, etc currently sit below us in the CCC table and yo-yo between CCC & the Prem.
Now, I'm not going to defend some of the recent (& worst) playing performances I've seen in my years of being a Watford fan but I'd really like to know who you think wil come to a Club our size and turn it round. The only sensible suggestion I've seen so far is John Ward; I can't see Paul Ince thinking we're a better vehicle for him than MK Dons, Hoddle, Tigana & Davies have all proven to be less able & have similar transfer records to Aidy whilst they all failed to survive in the Prem and Allardyce's teams tend to play the same way as we fail to currently: big, physical teams that hit long balls.

So, how will you gauge, sustain & finance your vision of success for Watford FC?

As for me being a Happy Clapper - **** right! I support anyone playing in a Watford shirt regardless of performance. If the team play badly & lose, I'll try to analyse where it went wrong. I'd say recently we have played with zero confidence, not had enough shots (on or off target) at goal, got caught-out by tactical naivety from players & manager and, above all, not been "Watfordlike" i.e. not shown a willingness to chase the game until too late, not put in 100% effort and not tried to score goals.

Am I currently happy? Bloody right I am! Somehow, we're still three wins and a draw from the Premiership; whether we can get those results depends on the character of the manager & players. As Aidy says, now is the time to "stay & fight or turn & run"; that could well decide what happens post- season to our Club: staff, board, owners & fans alike.

U 'OOORRRRNNNNNNSSSSS!

WFC, so much of what you say I agree with, but your last paragraph doesn't make sense after your analysis. How can you be happy with what has been going on in recent matches. Yes it is amazing we still stand a chance to get into the play offs, it is even more amazing that we have played so badly that we have let a 9 point lead disappear without a whimper. When you look at things from afar it is easy to say that we are a top half of the table club, and no more. However, if you look at the team's actual performance this season you should be more constructive and see how we can put right the mistakes that have been made. I am a loyal fan, but by no means am I happy with how the season has panned out.

Dear Roger & Dear WFC & proud. I agree with you chaps very much.

How people can be so silly about hidden agendas or Simpson being less than honest is beyond reasoning.

I regularly get info from companies in which I have shares,concerning rumoured v actual offers,etc and whether the Directors believe the offers should be rejected or otherwise. The laws concerning this impose strict criteria on disclosure which ties the hands of Directors whilst leaving the media free to speculate.

The level of outrage by posters can only be fuelled by their levels of procedural ignorance.