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Watford chairman Jimmy Russo questions Reading's Brendan Rodgers on Tommy Smith's future plans

7:34pm Wednesday 8th July 2009


Watford chairman Jimmy Russo is "disturbed" as to how former manager Brendan Rodgers knows Tommy Smith wants to join Reading when the Royals have not received permission to speak to the forward.

Russo also accused Rodgers of being “very disrespectful to fans and staff” at Watford and said the 36-year-old “must not forget who gave him his first managerial opportunity”.

Rodgers claims Smith wants to reunite with him at the Madejski Stadium but there are queries as to how the Northern Irishman would know as Watford rejected their “derisory” £750,000 offer last week.

The Berkshire club have not submitted another bid and Russo confirmed Reading have not received permission to speak with Smith.

Russo said: “It is with disappointment that I have read Brendan Rodgers’ comments regarding our player Tommy Smith, in today’s online edition of the Reading Evening Post.

“I am somewhat disturbed as to how Brendan knows Tommy’s future intentions.

“His comments are not very respectful to the fans and the staff at Watford Football Club and he must not forget that Watford gave him his first managerial opportunity.

“Reading have failed to meet our valuation of the player in question, in fact last week I labelled the bid "derisory".

“I am more than happy to keep the player at the club if our valuation is not met. He is a fantastic player who will have a huge contribution on the pitch next season if he is still a Watford player.

“This also means that we do not have to purchase a replacement for him.

“Unless we receive the appropriate valuation for Tommy, through the correct channels, then we intend to keep the player at the club, this I can guarantee 100 per cent.”

Sheffield United have had a £1.8m bid accepted but the Watford Observer understands Smith is not keen on moving his family.


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Your Say YourWatford

herts hornet, watford says...
7:59pm Wed 8 Jul 09

well what a fantastic response from our chairman so refreshing well done Jimmy, i hope ,in fact know you will keep your word on this ,now go even further and fight this direct tapping up of our player and sue the gobey irish bloke and club ,that will frighten the life out of Madjeski ! look forward to seeing Tommy in watford shirt next season ,trust you are happy with that Tom ?

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jr cove, cove says...
8:12pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Great to see Mr Russo standing up for our club. If Reading want Tommy Smith they know the price either put up or clear off.
As for our fans getting upset about the players possible move to Reading get real, who amongst you would,nt jump at the chance to better your job prospects and wages with no disruption to your family life.Players come and go only the true fans stay loyal,Stop your moaning and get behind the team

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a1derek, St Albans says...
8:22pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Isn't it obvious, he has been tapped up. In fact I understand Tom and Rodgers are speaking to each other.

We must report Reading and get this stopped NOW!

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Berks Horn, London says...
8:35pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Good to see such a bullish response, however I think he needs to go further. How about "I wouldn't sell Reading a virus and will be reporting Rodgers to the FA immediately"

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Golden Boy, Watford says...
8:40pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Excellent words from our chairman. I had a brief chat with him on the train back from Doncaster, so I know he'll do his best by the club. If Reading are involved, Jimmy please stick with my £3.5m valuation mentioned in an earlier posting. They received £6.5m for Doyle. He's 3 years younger (at 26) than Tommy, but only scored 1 more goal (18 vs 17). Tommy is the better team player (9 assists vs Doyle’s 5), but you lose maybe £1m per year for the age difference. Therefore, £3.5m it is!

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jasonwatford, Watford says...
8:46pm Wed 8 Jul 09

keep the faith mr russo...just refuse to deal with him..or you make an offer of 300,000 for stephen hunt

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Spencer Hutchinson, Javea says...
9:09pm Wed 8 Jul 09

I agree, let Reading pay the real money that Smith is worth 300,000, nothing less, well done the Chairman

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T.O, Watford says...
9:19pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Erm, Spence, £300k is quite cheap?!! But i know what you meant..

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garyporter1, london says...
9:38pm Wed 8 Jul 09

I think that the Russo's should hire Joe Kinnear to communicate with Reading on Watford's behalf. He did a great job with that press conference last year as Newcastle manager and a bit of the same vocabulary with Readings representatives would be great to see!

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Hexham Hornet, HEXHAM says...
9:49pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Lets see him put his words into action and do something about this. Too many players have been tapped up over recent years, not just from Watford but across the game and somebody needs to put a stop to it. There are rules with procedures on how to sign players, and other staff, still in contract and if nobody starts acting against the big shots then we might as well throw the book away.

none-soft is my security word and hope that sums up how JR will treat Reading. Madjeski can afford to take the punishment that should be metered out to them.

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WHIZZY HORNET, ROMFORD ESSEX says...
10:14pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Why don't the board if they want to keep him at the club as it sounds just say he isn't for sale at any price. As Mr Russo has stated he his more than happy for Tommy to stay at the club and assuming Tommy wants to stay put this must therefore mean that it does not effect the club finaically. Sue Judas and Reading for the tapping and get some more money out of them.

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JSD, Watford says...
10:18pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Well said Jimmy!

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enlightened one, Watford says...
10:21pm Wed 8 Jul 09

About time we reported these r-soles.

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BigDawg, Mill End says...
10:33pm Wed 8 Jul 09

You tell 'em Giacomo!! Its almost as if Judas and Reading have sat down and drawn up a plan of how to monk us off the most over a 3 month period. Malky - for me you could lose every other game this season but as long as you thrash the pants off Reading I will consider it a good season's work!

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martin62, abbots langley says...
10:36pm Wed 8 Jul 09

We should report them for tapping up now - baring in mind Russo was surprised at Judas's U-turn when he left which smacked of communication between our manager and Reading after WFC refused permission to talk. we should also get tough on the Smith saga. The price is £1.8 million and if no deal is reached by July 31st he stays until at least January. What we don't want is a circus going all the way to September - doing MM no favours. I say 1.Report them. 2. Put a price and deadline on any TS deal - and stick to it!!!!.

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derry pigweed, northampton says...
10:51pm Wed 8 Jul 09

Well said Mr Chairman!
VOR you must be happy with the new chairman standing up for WFC and protecting our assets?
by the way how is the silver fox and his downfall ca$hton?

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pfwhornets, Tring says...
12:10am Thu 9 Jul 09

Well done Jimmy.

“Unless we receive the appropriate valuation for Tommy, through the correct channels, then we intend to keep the player at the club, this I can guarantee 100 per cent.”

We are relying on you to keep your word.

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The Not-so-enlightened one, Watford says...
7:00am Thu 9 Jul 09

I like the direct manner of JR - it sure beats the BS and spin of the previous regime, I just hope he's as good as his word.

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headbo18, Oxhey says...
8:43am Thu 9 Jul 09

No one seems to think of Tommy and his family in this saga.Stick to what you,as an employee,want.For sure you won't be offered a decent extension of your contract at Watford.What about the GT influence,he's making a good job in telling MM to retain our prize assets!!!

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Mick Jones, Uxbridge says...
9:18am Thu 9 Jul 09

Well done Jimmy, now you have shown your passion follow it through and fight to keep him..contract extension offer show him you want him to stay. With TS on board we will finish above that "big club" from berkshire who are excited because they have sold 11,000 season tickets,,yippee do the ground will be half full again then, the kind of loyalty the irish tosser deserves

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jasonwatford, Watford says...
9:33am Thu 9 Jul 09

ive joined the reading evening post website website and put my comment on...think you should all do that and let them read what he really is...tosser

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Garston Tony, Garston says...
9:33am Thu 9 Jul 09

If Reading and BR have tapped up TS then yes they should be reported to the FA, but is football the only business where employees are not allowed to talk to other businesses about jobs? Football isn’t really a sport anymore success is chased not for success sake but for the money that can be made and even many kids want to be footballers for the money and fame not the love of the game so im surprised this rule hasnt been challenged in the courts like Bosman as a restraint of trade of something.

Having said that I agree with one of the first posters and would not blame TS if he went to reading or the club for selling him to them. I dont even blame BR for going there and think that most of us would have done the same thing in his situation.

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UZZY, LONDON COLNEY says...
10:00am Thu 9 Jul 09

It takes two to tango & it apears Smith has as much to do with this as much as Judas...i dont blame him for wanting to improve his wages etc,but his loyalty is is now in question,sell him for not less than £2m & make them take some of the other deadwood with him as part of the deal.

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worthing_hornet, worthing says...
10:00am Thu 9 Jul 09

Someone has commented about TS and his family. I hope that this will never turn into a witch hunt against them as it has done in some high profile cases involving players going to other teams. We should NEVER stoop to that level. I think TS needs to have a chat with the board and MM (if he hasn;t already) and tell themif he wants to go to Reading. If he does, then Reading have to meet our price or we have to accept that we might lose Tommy on a free in 12 months, but until then he needs to be reminded that he is a contracte Watford player, and if he feels any difficulty in giving us 100% he should quit now. Failing that he should agree to have his contract terminated with NO compensation. If he wants to go, he should just do so. Also Watford HAVE to pursue this tapping up matter, two players are subject to this not just TS but TP as well. As has been said, if this was Asrenal and Man U this would be all over the red tops by now. Come on WO, lead the way in getting to the bottom of this matter.

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hogweed, elstree says...
10:02am Thu 9 Jul 09

Lots of hysteria here. I don't care what Russo says. He's going to sell Tommy and in the end it will probably be to Reading. As Metallica say Sad but True.

Hog out

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JonBoy, Watford says...
10:24am Thu 9 Jul 09

'... will I be Watford or a Royal, here's what she said to me ...'

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headbo18, Oxhey says...
11:17am Thu 9 Jul 09

It seems to me that JR is showing a little hysteria in this matter.All JR wants is an auction and has little allegiance to TS by coming out and saying "we are desperate to keep you" Instead all we get is lets cash in on a good asset.The next thing we will witness is "those" great fans booing Tommy.Who are the real Judases in the matter. JR was delighted to off load BR so he could get his hands on 1/2 million quid,precious little effort to retain a potential great manager.Yes I am a cynic but that is what football makes you.

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T.O, Watford says...
11:26am Thu 9 Jul 09

hogweed wrote:
Lots of hysteria here. I don't care what Russo says. He's going to sell Tommy and in the end it will probably be to Reading. As Metallica say Sad but True.

Hog out
Miserable git!

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eltonsarmy, vegas says...
11:35am Thu 9 Jul 09

Awesome Jimmy, as herts hornet says take them to the cleaners, his rogers that thick what idiot comes out with what he has said tommy you need to make a statement mate as he is taking you down with him or have you been talking to him? if this was going on in the prem it would be major headlines come on Jimmy get onto the league and get this man sorted out. rogers i cant wait to come to your hole of a town in september!

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Garston Tony, Garston says...
12:26pm Thu 9 Jul 09

I dont know why some posters are either suprised or annoyed at the club being willing to sell TS, its been pretty obvious since before this board arrived that all our players would be available for transfer and at least this board will not sell at any price. And why question TS loyalty? He hasn’t asked for a transfer to begin with and if he does not want to move his family then its natural that he would be interested in listening to an offer from Reading especially if it also offers him the last major contract he wants at his age and lets face it a good chance at promotion.

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herts hornet, watford says...
12:29pm Thu 9 Jul 09

Just an observation but Jason Scotland
30 YEAR OLD in last year of contract with Swansea, striker ,going to Wigan for around 2 million very soon ,so that's the going rate and why we demand if Tommy must go we get that sort of figure !

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Kentishman, wateringbury says...
12:48pm Thu 9 Jul 09

Well done Russo do not deal with Judas Rodgers, unless he is prepared to pay above the asking rate. BR you can have Ellington if you really want somebody to remind you of your short time at Watford. BR has no respect for WFC I can not believe his statements made. BR you have become the most unpopular previous employee of WFC. I hope that we give Reading a good thrashing in September, RFC go bottom of the league and you are sacked.
Good luck Malky you should have had the job first time round. BR can also keep away from Priskin, Loach, but for £700,000 you can have Ellington with our blessings.

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worthing_hornet, worthing says...
12:54pm Thu 9 Jul 09

Do we know that Watford haven't looked to offer TS a new contract? Have we offered him an extension but he rejected it? did he ask for a pay rise that we were unable to meet? Is tommy wanting to stay but his agent is causing difficulties? Is our position to offer a new contract now improved from where it was 6 months ago when the old board and manager were in place? All these things are unclear. What is clear is that there are several offers on the table it seems for TS and of them all, he has been given permission only to speak to Sheff U about their offer. Once that has clearly fallen through, the club should be told by the player and his agent and they can then confirm whether TS will be allowed to speak to any other clubs, from the offers already submitted. Otherwise the club can make it clear that he will not be sold unless a certain price is met (presumeably 1.8 mil) and any club meeting that amount can then be permitted to speak to him. But it should be a full price, not 500k plus appearances plus goals, 1.8 mil hard cold cash.

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GrahamTaylor, Watford says...
12:54pm Thu 9 Jul 09

Very interesting words buts that’s all they are, words. Facts are Watford need some cash. Smith wants to go to Reading and in January he can sign a pre contract with them and leave for nothing the following summer. Reading do not want to pay £1.8M so a compromise will be reached. TS will leave for an undisclosed fee that way everyone saves face you watch. Reality will be fee of around £1M with add-on’s should reading be promoted. The gamble will be if Tommy Smith decides to see out his contract because he doesn’t want to move his family and Reading are promoted will they still want him? IMO he is not a premiership player. By making this public the Russo’s probably feel Reading might offer more to reduce the possibility of this involving the FA again facts are ‘tapping up’ is pretty difficult to prove and goes on all the time.

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worthing_hornet, worthing says...
12:56pm Thu 9 Jul 09

kentishman, I know it waon't happen but there would be a delicious irony of us beating Reading 3 - 0 with NE scoring a hat trick! - oh here comes my medication, 'over here nurse!'

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khvb, London says...
1:31pm Thu 9 Jul 09

It could be that Rodgers dosen't actually know Tommy Smith's plans but knows that Watford FC have already planned on receiving the cash from his sale and is trying to use this knowledge to his, and his new employers, advantage.

The Russo's backed Rodgers with their own cash in the January transfer window so that he was able to bring Cowie and Williamson in whilst not having to sell TS, the prize asset.

The thanks that they get is that Rodgers gets the plaudits of saving the club from relegation and is able to get himself a 'better' job whereas if they had stuck with the plan that Rodgers signed up to under Simpson and Smith was sold in January and the club were relegated then Rodgers would have no new job offers and would be expecting the Russo's to display the loyalty that he felt entitled.

No wonder they are bitter.

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JB11, St Albans says...
2:27pm Thu 9 Jul 09

well done Jimmy, this is the sort of response expected from someone who actually cares about the club, not just his bank balance. I wouldn't blame Tommy if he wants to go, but i'm sure he's professional enough (unlike many)to understand the situation and will give his utmost should he stay.

security word - hope-flat -- probably right!!

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pstannard1, Watford says...
5:44pm Thu 9 Jul 09

WELL DONE JIMMY. YOU SHOW'EM WHO BOSS. IT SOUNDS LIKE A UNSETTLING MOVE ON JUDA'S RETURN.

HOW DOES JUDAS KNOW WHAT TOMMY'S PLANS ARE. UNLESS HE HAS BEEN DOING A FEW ILLEGAL APPROCHES TOWARDS OUR BEST PLAYER.

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VoR, Watford says...
7:19pm Thu 9 Jul 09

"must not forget who gave him his first managerial opportunity”.

FFS When it suits Jimmy eh?
Why not then offer him another contract? you can't have it both ways, either sell him or keep him! I'd prefer to sell him at 2.5mil seeing he's only got one move left in him


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nothing, liskeard says...
9:27pm Thu 9 Jul 09

hogweed, elstree says. I love your comments Hog. You always put a smile on my face. Keep em coming. :)

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Comments are closed on this article.

Jimmy Russo said Sir Alex Ferguson believes Malky Mackay is a great choice. Picture: Pippa Douglas Chairman Jimmy Russo questions Brendan Rodgers. Picture: Action Images


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