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Watford chairman Jimmy Russo reveals the truth behind Reading ending their interest in Tommy Smith (From Watford Observer)
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Watford chairman Jimmy Russo reveals the truth behind Reading ending their interest in Tommy Smith
5:00pm Sunday 23rd August 2009
Watford chairman Jimmy Russo has revealed that despite Tommy Smith being on the verge of joining Reading, the Royals have now pulled out of the running to sign the forward.
It was claimed Reading had matched Sheffield United's successful £1.8m bid but Russo has released a lengthy statement on the club's website denying this.
“Despite claims in the press to the contrary, Reading did not match our valuation of the player,” Russo said.
“The guaranteed fees they proposed were less than what was acceptable and the rest of their bid was based upon "jam tomorrow" add ons, which included a hefty proportion based upon Reading achieving promotion to the Premier League.
“In any event, I was told on Friday by a Reading representative that Sir John Madejski has withdrawn Reading from the race to sign Tommy and that they are moving on to other targets.”
Former Watford manager and current Reading boss Brendan Rodgers has previously stated that Smith wanted to reunite with him at the Madejski Stadium.
And Russo claims the deal was set to go through when Reading pulled the plug due to Watford's request for a £200,000 payment based on appearances.
Russo said: “It seems that our request for a £200k payment based on Tommy making a given number of appearances at Reading has prevented the deal from going through – they were that close.
“Given that the evidence available to us suggests that Brendan covets the player and Reading have netted circa £11m with the sales of Doyle, Hunt and Bikey - not to mention the huge wage savings that go with that, I have to say I was surprised when they said that they were no longer interested in signing Tommy because of a clause that is commonplace in transfers today.
“We don't really know why Reading have withdrawn their interest. The asking price was fair and they were really close to the numbers we were looking for.
“It’s up to Reading’s chairman now really and he obviously knows his own business best. It is not our place to comment on why they do what they do."
Watford sold striker Tamas Priskin to Ipswich for around £1.7m recently and Russo praised Town's representatives for the way they negotiated the deal.
The Hornets' financial problems are well-documented but Russo is adamant he will not let his star players leave on the cheap.
Russo said: “We cannot let other clubs take advantage because they feel they can exploit the financial position that the previous regime has left us in.
“We showed in our dealings with Ipswich and Tamas Priskin that we understand the value of our players and that we are fair in our dealings.
“It is exactly the same with Reading and Tommy Smith. We have to give credit to Marcus Evans at Ipswich for backing his manager and negotiating with us in a quiet and discreet manner. It eventually produced a suitable and appropriate deal for Ipswich, Tamas Priskin and Watford.”
Newcastle and Portsmouth are understood to have enquired about Smith's availability but Russo would be content with the 29-year-old staying at Vicarage Road.
The Watford chairman said: “We have had enquiries from a Premier League Club and a very big Championship club so it’s difficult to say how the situation will unfold, but if Tommy doesn't leave the club we know that he will contribute to our cause on the pitch, like he always does.
“Tommy is a top professional, a great player and a good man - let's hope the situation is resolved sooner rather than later.”
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Your Say YourWatford
JoelCanning, Northwood says...
5:34pm Sun 23 Aug 09
SAHornet, Port Elizabeth says...
6:02pm Sun 23 Aug 09
Ellaye263, Amersham says...
6:36pm Sun 23 Aug 09
And if you want it sorted sooner rather than later Jimmy, just offer Tommy a new deal ASAP, even a year's extension might see us through to a time when hopefully we might be in a better position to improve it.
herts hornet, watford says...
7:16pm Sun 23 Aug 09
enlightened one, Watford says...
7:28pm Sun 23 Aug 09
herts hornet wrote:Twaddle.
Rubbish from Mr Russo HE WOULD HAVE SOLD TO THAT LOT if they had paid the 200k ,shame on you Mr Chairman WHY NOT OFFER OUR BEST PLAYER A DEAL and end this ,am now very unhappy in the direction this chairman is taken this club
Heimishe_Hornet, Radlett Stiebel says...
7:29pm Sun 23 Aug 09
It would be great for WFC if he were to stay. In that case, assuming he avoids injury and continues to perform, I imagine the merry-go-round will start again in December and it is difficult to conceive his value will diminish greatly.
If we are in with a clear shout of the play-offs then, the club may be keener to keep him.....
QUINNPT, Watford says...
7:30pm Sun 23 Aug 09
The Board would like to keep Smithy but can't aford him on his current wages. Would you take a pay cut.
Tommy at most will think of his family not the club.
Get real about the financial situation of the club.
It has a shortful and unfortutnately due to the over spending of the previous regieme it will take 5 years to get there!.
The current board has only been existance for 8 months. Rome was not built in a day.
By all means criticise the club but give them a chance!.
rosewine, France says...
7:34pm Sun 23 Aug 09
Maybe there is a plan B which will see Tommy getting a new contract offer. However I don't really expect to see the details of his discussions with the management spread all over the press and web.
baldo, berko says...
7:50pm Sun 23 Aug 09
rosewine wrote:Guys,
Yes, we would like to know every twist and turn when our star player is wanted, and a bid comes in. But for heavens sake, get real. Reading were slated off, quite rightly, for trying to do their deal through the media. Ipswich knew how to do it properly, and there was no circus as with the Reading bid. Maybe there is a plan B which will see Tommy getting a new contract offer. However I don't really expect to see the details of his discussions with the management spread all over the press and web.
Wake up and smell the coffee.
Watford cant offer Tommy a new deal, NO MONEY, you plonkers need to understand hoofers, simpson and Ashton have taken us to the brink of collapse, Smith and Jay will be off before the deadline window which will mean we still wilL have a club , if they dont administration is 100% cert, the Russo's are making sure we still have a team to watch.
baldo, berko says...
7:50pm Sun 23 Aug 09
rosewine wrote:Guys,
Yes, we would like to know every twist and turn when our star player is wanted, and a bid comes in. But for heavens sake, get real. Reading were slated off, quite rightly, for trying to do their deal through the media. Ipswich knew how to do it properly, and there was no circus as with the Reading bid. Maybe there is a plan B which will see Tommy getting a new contract offer. However I don't really expect to see the details of his discussions with the management spread all over the press and web.
Wake up and smell the coffee.
Watford cant offer Tommy a new deal, NO MONEY, you plonkers need to understand hoofers, simpson and Ashton have taken us to the brink of collapse, Smith and Jay will be off before the deadline window which will mean we still wilL have a club , if they dont administration is 100% cert, the Russo's are making sure we still have a team to watch.
Holly68, Bushey says...
7:59pm Sun 23 Aug 09
Jimmy wanted the £800k add on split (£600k on promotion, £200k based on appearances)
either way, all were really getting is £1m to £1.2m as Reading getting promoted is a pipe dream !!! The top 3 now will be the top 3 at the end.
I see bristol city are selling centre midfielder for £3.5m who couldn't fill Smithys boots, plus Delph at Leeds £8m, therefore smithy is peanuts
rosewine, France says...
8:01pm Sun 23 Aug 09
Yes the club needs the money from a transfer fee. Yes, the club also needs to get the wage bill down. Are you suggesting that the directors have not thought out what happens if Tommy is not sold and no one wants some of the higher earning players. What is your suggestion to remove the higher earners above if no one wants them.
So so easy to blame, rightly, the previous regime, but in business you need to have a plan B.
HOOF, England says...
8:19pm Sun 23 Aug 09
herts hornet wrote:There's been a few crazy posts on here in the last few weeks but this one wins it for me hands down.
Rubbish from Mr Russo HE WOULD HAVE SOLD TO THAT LOT if they had paid the 200k ,shame on you Mr Chairman WHY NOT OFFER OUR BEST PLAYER A DEAL and end this ,am now very unhappy in the direction this chairman is taken this club
U complete muppet!!!!
Henry VIII, Hampton Court says...
8:20pm Sun 23 Aug 09
I would just like to add a couple of personal points.
1. Would all fans who see themselves as true WFC fans stop slagging off our board. Surely people can see that G Taylor and the others are trying their best to stablise what was a sinking ship. The two loan signings this past week have been excellent.
2. Stop slagging of B Rodgers. At the end of the day he did help us avoid the drop. For me the biggest mistake he made was to ask about his integrity, no-one asked him to say those words, but at the end of the day he has gone, he kept us up but I really feel we should all move on. Grudges really don't help anyone and we have our own new management team to support now.
3. Finally cut out the un-necessary abuse being hurled around this site. We are all fans, all with passionate views but I doubt some of the stuff being written on hear would be said face-to-face.
Just my thoughts but it's been a good week for WFC.
Cheers. Back to my six wives.
herts hornet, watford says...
8:23pm Sun 23 Aug 09
baldo wrote:what a load of rubbish ,who says we are 100% cert for admin , we have spent money we dont have if you believe everything this board tell us on Graham ,severin and travner ,the last two in particular we did not need and could have saved on wages and given to our best player so much for being skint !
rosewine wrote: Yes, we would like to know every twist and turn when our star player is wanted, and a bid comes in. But for heavens sake, get real. Reading were slated off, quite rightly, for trying to do their deal through the media. Ipswich knew how to do it properly, and there was no circus as with the Reading bid. Maybe there is a plan B which will see Tommy getting a new contract offer. However I don't really expect to see the details of his discussions with the management spread all over the press and web.Guys, Wake up and smell the coffee. Watford cant offer Tommy a new deal, NO MONEY, you plonkers need to understand hoofers, simpson and Ashton have taken us to the brink of collapse, Smith and Jay will be off before the deadline window which will mean we still wilL have a club , if they dont administration is 100% cert, the Russo's are making sure we still have a team to watch.
also what is the story with Travner other message boards are saying we have bought the wrong player and made a huge mistake he cannot even make a subs bench of seven ,perhaps a statement on that would help ?
not interested in just having a team to watch want a team to be competitive without selling every decent asset we have .we are spending money on new changing rooms e.t.c ,clubs on the brink do not do this ,maybe the real reason is they so much want a new east stand instead of finding outside investment we have to sell players to pay for it we would then have nice stadium in 1st division .Perhaps the board should be looking for investment in the club nobody on the board has any money we have a billionaire owner perhaps Mr Russo you should explain to us what his motives are and why he owns us ?
herts hornet, watford says...
8:23pm Sun 23 Aug 09
baldo wrote:what a load of rubbish ,who says we are 100% cert for admin , we have spent money we dont have if you believe everything this board tell us on Graham ,severin and travner ,the last two in particular we did not need and could have saved on wages and given to our best player so much for being skint !
rosewine wrote: Yes, we would like to know every twist and turn when our star player is wanted, and a bid comes in. But for heavens sake, get real. Reading were slated off, quite rightly, for trying to do their deal through the media. Ipswich knew how to do it properly, and there was no circus as with the Reading bid. Maybe there is a plan B which will see Tommy getting a new contract offer. However I don't really expect to see the details of his discussions with the management spread all over the press and web.Guys, Wake up and smell the coffee. Watford cant offer Tommy a new deal, NO MONEY, you plonkers need to understand hoofers, simpson and Ashton have taken us to the brink of collapse, Smith and Jay will be off before the deadline window which will mean we still wilL have a club , if they dont administration is 100% cert, the Russo's are making sure we still have a team to watch.
also what is the story with Travner other message boards are saying we have bought the wrong player and made a huge mistake he cannot even make a subs bench of seven ,perhaps a statement on that would help ?
not interested in just having a team to watch want a team to be competitive without selling every decent asset we have .we are spending money on new changing rooms e.t.c ,clubs on the brink do not do this ,maybe the real reason is they so much want a new east stand instead of finding outside investment we have to sell players to pay for it we would then have nice stadium in 1st division .Perhaps the board should be looking for investment in the club nobody on the board has any money we have a billionaire owner perhaps Mr Russo you should explain to us what his motives are and why he owns us ?
Chris the Vic, The Vic says...
8:43pm Sun 23 Aug 09
I am not sure what Reading offerred or didnt offer from this statement. Did they match the Blades offer and we wanted an extra £200k or were they still holding out for a handout to equal the Blades offer if they got promoted . I am really not sure that it was almost a done deal when we appear to be £200k apart either.
As for Tommy staying or leaving, undoubtedly if someone, who Tommy is willing to play for, offers the right cash we will sell. Can we affor to give him the contract that he wants...well of course we can if we get rid of other players and clear the debts and reduce the wages bill.
If Jay went have we enough cover for Willow and Mariappa, I doubt it, Is the new left back what we want or not in which case Lloyd moves across and acts as cover at centreback and harley has to remain etc. We are very thin on the ground and yes with Tommy we will be safe from relegation as long as he remains fit etc.
Best of luck to Malky and the Russos ...their lives are not simple this week but if the team keeps improving the top eight certainly isnt impossible but given all the options I would sell Tommy, get Ras in andpray that Duke gets fit and plays out of his skin.
By the way the crowd attendance was not good against Blackpool, holidays and a lesser team, but we need bigger gates to ensure viability or the January transfer window could be even more painful.
bomber18, Oxhey says...
8:53pm Sun 23 Aug 09
enlightened one, Watford says...
9:48pm Sun 23 Aug 09
bomber18 wrote:Nope.
All these comments praising the Russos are similar to the praise initially heaped upon GS.At the time I said he was not a philanthropist and I was right.Is history about to repeat itself?
Herts ,really mate you need to sit in a darkened room for a while and have a period of contemplation before firing off anymore postings like todays guff.Very strange.
WFC4ever, Watford says...
9:51pm Sun 23 Aug 09
herts hornet wrote:Problem with most people on hear...they can never actually agree on anything!
Rubbish from Mr Russo HE WOULD HAVE SOLD TO THAT LOT if they had paid the 200k ,shame on you Mr Chairman WHY NOT OFFER OUR BEST PLAYER A DEAL and end this ,am now very unhappy in the direction this chairman is taken this club
Hopefully will means he is staying rather than just a way of saying "we want more money"
Reading fans aren't happy with their club although one bloke seems to think Russo has been our chairman for "years" and "we don't trust him" !
derry pigweed, northampton says...
10:14pm Sun 23 Aug 09
john the greek, says...
8:07am Mon 24 Aug 09
However if Reading are offering a big percentage of TS fee should they get promotion then it should be no deal. We might as well take that gamble on ourselves getting promotion.
smeg, Hemel says...
8:09am Mon 24 Aug 09
andyandyandy, watford says...
8:12am Mon 24 Aug 09
et !!!!!!!
andyandyandy, watford says...
8:12am Mon 24 Aug 09
et !!!!!!!
yellowredblack, London says...
8:18am Mon 24 Aug 09
bizlink, says...
9:02am Mon 24 Aug 09
herts hornet wrote:Too silly for words!
Rubbish from Mr Russo HE WOULD HAVE SOLD TO THAT LOT if they had paid the 200k ,shame on you Mr Chairman WHY NOT OFFER OUR BEST PLAYER A DEAL and end this ,am now very unhappy in the direction this chairman is taken this club
bizlink, says...
9:05am Mon 24 Aug 09
Holly68 wrote:Players on LONG CONTRACTS cannot be compared to someone (Tommy) whose contract expires in
£1m up front, £800k if Reading get promoted ?? Was that there offer !? Jimmy wanted the £800k add on split (£600k on promotion, £200k based on appearances) either way, all were really getting is £1m to £1.2m as Reading getting promoted is a pipe dream !!! The top 3 now will be the top 3 at the end. I see bristol city are selling centre midfielder for £3.5m who couldn't fill Smithys boots, plus Delph at Leeds £8m, therefore smithy is peanuts
TEN MONTHS TIME and who can sign a PRE-CONTYRACT AGREEMENT with ANY OTHER CLUB in just over FOUR MONTHS TIME!
Please post sense!
bizlink, says...
9:13am Mon 24 Aug 09
I agree with your overall points BUT BR did NOT save us!
Malky had turned us around before BR destroyed his good work and PUT US IN BOTTOM THREE!
FACT!
Once he reverted to Malky`s set up THEN we progressed.
the ONLY good thing he did (apart from leave) was to get Cork in-his other loaness were dreadful and he did NOT find Cowie or Williamson.
He will fail at Reading and I rate Malky far higher any day.
Dr.Oftaw, wd18 says...
9:18am Mon 24 Aug 09
smeg, Hemel says...
10:01am Mon 24 Aug 09
And that without a trace of irony. Bless you.
Garston Tony, Garston says...
10:08am Mon 24 Aug 09
My understanding is that TS was offered a new contract, in line with what the club could afford, which he turned down. The club are not in a position to let players who have a significant value run out their contracts but its to their credit they are also not willing to sell players for less than they think they are worth. The board are walking the thin line between saving the club but still making it viable on the field of play, the reality is that all our players are available for the right price but despite the financial difficulties the board have still invested in new signings and have not started a fire sale and again that is to their credit.
Some fans have a shorter memory than my senile goldfish and forget that, EJs ownership apart, we are a small selling club. Just look at the Vicarage Road and Rookery ends and remember that the sales of Furlong and Dyer helped pay for those. Right now player sales are not to build a new stand but to save the club but in the future we will still be selling the next TS or Young in order to make ends meet and to improve the stadium and that’s life for WFC. So lets get some reality and lets get behind the board and the team instead of bickering amongst ourselves
stevemag, Windsor says...
10:09am Mon 24 Aug 09
The reason why we are now in our finanical mess is due to Messrs Boothroyd, the Silver Fox and Mr Cashton. Ridiculous signings , contracts and wages have bled this club dry.
bizlink, says...
10:52am Mon 24 Aug 09
stevemag wrote:How can you re-invent history like this?
"BR put us in the bottom three" - what complete and utter tosh. We may have been there in fact, but the real reason we were in the position was due to the clueless football adopted by a Mr Adrian Boothroyd and his inability to get the best out of players such as Priskin, Macanuff, Doyley and Mariappa. As soon as Rodgers came these footballers form totally turned around - and by the way, it takes more than 2 games before a new manager/ new style kicks in. The reason why we are now in our finanical mess is due to Messrs Boothroyd, the Silver Fox and Mr Cashton. Ridiculous signings , contracts and wages have bled this club dry.
Malky arrested and then reversed the Boothroyd form (his last 2 games 3-0 v QPR & 1-1 @ Bristol City) and MALKY brought RJ & SL in-switched LD to Left Back & JM to right wing.
Rodgers then changed PLAYERS-TACTICS-SET UP, etc, did you not see his "debut" v DONCASTER? or maybe you thought BRIDCUTT was good?
Did you not go to Derby when he brought Bridcutt on and prompltly turned a draw into defeat? ( Bridcutt must be the only opponent in 5 years to be out run & outfought by Ellington!)
I asume you didn`t go to Reading-Brum-Wolves?
when did Rodgers get us OUT of the mess he created?
When he went back to Malky`s formation & selection!
Rodgers is arrogant and not very bright and his wholesale initial changes showed a complete lack of reality.
Your post shows that either you do not go or do not understand..........
........or both!
stevemag, Windsor says...
11:19am Mon 24 Aug 09
Fact 1. Yes Malky made some important changes and we played a million times better under him rather than that clown AB.
Fact 2. Brendan Rodgers brought Bridcutt in- no I did not rate the guy much either. He also brought in a certain Jack Cork . Yes i did rate this guy. did you?
Fact 3. Priskin - useless under Boothroyd due to the ball being played at the players throats. Wrong tactics.
Fact 4. Defence under boothroyd leaked goals at an alarming rate. Step in Rodgers £100k (no not £3 million) signing Mike Williamson
Fact 5. Doyley under Boofers was rubbish, he improved alarmingly under Malky & Rodgers. As did Macanuff
Fact 6. New styles, formations, new teams do not suddenly gel after a couple of games . It takes time.
I personally detest Brendan Rodgers after the way he issued the loyalty speech 48 hours before leaving........ however my write up was not saying how wonderful Brendan is........it was merely saying that Brendan Rodgers was not the catalyst who took us suddenly into trouble. We were already in trouble when Rodgers arrived hence why Boofers got sacked in the first place. GET IT !?
Had we of changed the manager previous to late 2008 we may well of challenged for a late top 6 place.
As i say, the damage in chasing players like Collins John, signing players on ridiculous wages ala Bromby, Jackson, Ellington (oh i forgot what was the transfer fee?). Oh sorry, there was one Steve Kabba too. .........has put us where we are now. Too high wages, players on contracts who are not good enough and more to the point who nobody else wants.
Johan Cruyff, Watford says...
11:25am Mon 24 Aug 09
BR didn't do bad actually. He did manage to motivate players and change the playing style as much as MM did. The recents games show that MM has reverted to more long ball than under BR and I'm not sure yet if that is a good thing.
arthur horsefield, radlett says...
1:17pm Mon 24 Aug 09
eltonsarmy, vegas says...
1:20pm Mon 24 Aug 09
busheyhornet, bushey says...
2:07pm Mon 24 Aug 09
stuartscullion, St Albans says...
8:43pm Mon 24 Aug 09
I'm guessing if we can get rid of Ellington, Sadler and Eustace, we can afford to keep him anyway.
We love Tommy and he loves Watford! He is the jewel in the crown.
Watford 'til I die!
Watford chairman Jimmy Russo has revealed that despite Tommy Smith being on the verge of joining Reading, the Royals have now pulled out of the running to sign the forward.Picture: Action Images
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UZZY, LONDON COLNEY says...
5:33pm Sun 23 Aug 09