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Former Watford chief executive expected to take up same role with Wycombe Wanderers (From Watford Observer)
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Former Watford chief executive expected to take up same role with Wycombe Wanderers
2:30pm Tuesday 27th January 2009
Mark Ashton is on the brink of a return to football, the Watford Observer understands.
The former Watford chief executive has been out of the game since he resigned his post at Vicarage Road in December in the wake of Graham Simpson’s decision to step down as chairman, but sources have told this newspaper that he is due to take up the same post at Wycombe Wanderers on Monday.
It is thought Ashton’s imminent appointment as chief executive with the League Two leaders has come as a result of his past dealings with Steve Hayes, Wycombe’s managing director and co-founder of the Hornets’ former shirt sponsors Loans.co.uk.
Following his departure from Watford, Ashton was roundly criticised by fans.
Even the moderate Watford Supporters Trust expressed their disappointment at Ashton's tenure. In a statement issued at the time it highlighted the failure to develop the East Stand as their greatest concern during Ashton's reign at Watford.
It added: "In addition his reign has been littered with relationship breakdowns, repeatedly with the Watford Observer and frequently with former employees.
"The turnover of staff in senior positions was not indicative of a well-run organisation. There was also a lack of transparency in communication with the fans that has led to an atmosphere of mistrust.”
However, the Trust praised Ashton for introducing Aidy Boothroyd to the club and for a number of commercial and player deals.
In a blistering attack on Ashton’s reign, respected columnist Oliver Phillips said: Logic dictates there must be more than one person with a good word to say about Mark Ashton’s reign as Watford’s chief executive, but I have yet to meet them.”
And he quoted former club press officer Richard Walker, who told Watford’s mailing list following Ashton’s departure: “Hold your opinions as you will on the recent changes but be advised of one thing. This news is a very good thing for the club.
“Today, there are a lot of ex-employees – yes, myself included – who will feel there’s now a chance of the club they knew returning.”
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Your Say YourWatford
Hexham Hornet, HEXHAM says...
2:43pm Tue 27 Jan 09
It could be good if Ashton recommends some of our players to join Wycombe on loan, or even permanently - like we were lumbered with Ellington - but I would hate a mistake like that to happen to them as they are a good club with what would appear to be a secure future ahead of them. I would be much happier if he went to Luton!!
hogweed, elstree says...
3:06pm Tue 27 Jan 09
Robert, Watford says...
3:14pm Tue 27 Jan 09
alexray, Watford says...
3:16pm Tue 27 Jan 09
Toshhorn, watford says...
3:20pm Tue 27 Jan 09
Won't be long before you start hearing about the West Brom success story.Don't question him,could result in the sack.You may well fall out with the BFP.Good luck,good riddance
Graham Gimpson, Ricky says...
3:50pm Tue 27 Jan 09
I wonder if he'll be taking his errand boy and fellow Baggies fan Scott Field with him? Bet Field hasn't had time to speak to his old mate as he's spent the last six weeks furiously back tracking with the Russos.
OC1, St. Albans says...
3:58pm Tue 27 Jan 09
Graham Gimpson, Ricky says...
4:02pm Tue 27 Jan 09
Let's hope the WW supporters trust aren't quite as gullible
midland hornet, Stratford says...
4:08pm Tue 27 Jan 09
Roger68, St Albans says...
4:09pm Tue 27 Jan 09
Steve, Abbots Langley, says...
4:16pm Tue 27 Jan 09
blissett1, Abbots Langley says...
5:21pm Tue 27 Jan 09
I know that SH was very impressed when Cashton managed to get Aidy Boothroyd as Wycombe were after a new manager at the same time, so he has probably kept a close eye on developments since then.
Good Luck Wycombe - I honestly hope SH doesn't give too much control to him!!!!
derry pigweed, northampton says...
5:21pm Tue 27 Jan 09
inayellowshirt, Watford says...
5:24pm Tue 27 Jan 09
Please don't let it happen to Wycombe... let Ashton go to a club that deserves him, maybe Wolves
cliff46, watford says...
5:35pm Tue 27 Jan 09
At least the local solicitors should see an uplift in business volume!
Nice little club Wycombe, can't believe its chairman could be so stupid.
He must know what 99.99% of Watford supporters think, surely we can't possibly all be wrong, after all Cashton is about the only topic on these listings that we all seem to agree on.
Yellowfever, Borehamwood says...
8:32pm Tue 27 Jan 09
I like the sec word for this thread!
pfwhornets, Tring says...
11:03pm Tue 27 Jan 09
I guess it had to be a local club though, just about in biking distance.
Chris the Vic, The Vic says...
8:23am Wed 28 Jan 09
The Wycombe 'chairman' is very shrewd..look at the money he made from the sale of Loans.UK and Peter Taylor is an experienced football manager.
At Wycombe they are looking to build some temporary stands with a view to a new ground sooner than later (driven by Wasps).
Having said all that would I employ Boy Blunder.....Absolute
ly NOT.
Billie, Kings Langley says...
10:19am Wed 28 Jan 09
He probably wouldn't dare to walk him anyway...my dog would bite back and he wouldn't have protection from above.
WW RIP. What a pity. To pick up on Oli's article...the bell tolls...for Wycombe.
straight red, watford says...
8:38pm Wed 28 Jan 09
We are all entitled to opinions and most of us may fall out with some people from time to time, BUT, when 99.9% of everyone connected with club (internal & external) classify Ashton as an incompetent, arrogant opportunist we surely cannot all be wrong.
Was due diligence undertaken by WWFC? Because if it was, this appointment is even more galling.
This delusional individual who had us thinking man utd and a host of other leading club's were after his services, has end up at a league 2 club. No disrespect to WWFC but world champions to league 2 is a breathtaking u-turn and just about sums up the bull we were continuosly fed under his tenure by this incompetent and his poodle side kick in the media office i.e the 0.01% of people disappointed to see the back of Ashton.
Remember, this self serving individual 'resigned' the day before the club's AGM so as not to face a huge list of searching questions, such as why he felt it necessary to pay his partner consultancy fees after she left the club (her previously having joined WFC from WBA). Add to this the fiasco of the missing 'ringfenced monies', failure to build east stand ('trust me, trust me , trust me'), world beating ability to demotivate and gagg staff, hugely incompetent and woeful transfer negotiation, the list is endless and his legacy will forever be associated with the financial and business acumen of a buffoon.
I am also concerned that the club's current CEO (an ashton appointment) was quoted as saying Ashton would always be a welcome visitor at WFC.
If this is still the case then I stand corrected and a risable 0.02% of everyone were sad to see the back of this failure.
No Wheels, Islington says...
9:24am Thu 29 Jan 09
Johnjones1959, Aylesbury says...
11:41pm Thu 29 Jan 09
I despise this creature so much I wouldn't even get any pleasure if he joined the doomed ship off J11 of the M1 now that really would be rubbing salt in to the wound and we horns ain't that bad are we LOL
Your sayYour Watford
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Mark Ashton. Picture: JANE PARR
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Vicar Rage, Watford says...
2:37pm Tue 27 Jan 09
. . . this'll soon put a top to that.
What great news for the rest of League Two.