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Jimmy Russo blasts Royals "derisory" offer for Tommy Smith


Jimmy Russo has reacted angrily to suggestions that Watford star Tommy Smith is on the verge of being sold to Reading, calling the Royals’ offer for the Hornets talisman “derisory” and “insulting” and insisting there is no deal currently in place for the player to link up again with Brendan Rodgers.

The Watford chairman contacted the Watford Observer in response to a story we reported from the Reading Chronicle earlier this evening. This claimed Smith was poised to turn down a move to Premiership newcomers Wolves in favour of a switch to the Madejski Stadium for around £800,000 and that the deal could be completed within the next week.

But Russo has told us: “As far as I am concerned there is no deal whatsoever with Reading. I can 100 per cent guarantee that.

“They have made a derisory offer which I am not interested in,” said the chairman, who also branded Reading’s valuation of the 17-goal striker “insulting” and added that he had “no desire” to sell Watford’s leading asset.


Your Say YourWatford

Chris the Vic, The Vic says...
9:09pm Wed 1 Jul 09

You tell them Russo...if Judas wants to sign his superman (no offence tommy i hope you stay at the vic)he hd better come up with a price to reflect the players true value. Something above a player like Doyle for a start who along with several others killed off the Royals promotion bid...I think the first bid had a digit missing at the end. £8m if judas wants him and a small discount to others...


enlightened one, Watford says...
9:11pm Wed 1 Jul 09

I do indeed hope you are correct Jimmy,get em to put a 2 at the front and I could just about stomach it.
Good to know you follow this excellent site.

WFC4ever, Watford says...
9:14pm Wed 1 Jul 09

Strange as it was said we'd rejected two bids of over a million last week for Smith if the offer is only 800k so hope Mr Russo is right.

hawkhorn, watford says...
9:15pm Wed 1 Jul 09

Lets hope Jimmy Russo doesn't have the same 'integrity' as BR.... We will have to wait and see!!!

Tynedale Hornet, Hexham says...
9:16pm Wed 1 Jul 09

I'm feeling positive at the moment. A few months ago the club would have denied a story like this and then sold him for half the price. Maybe I'm in dreamland but what an incredible boost it would be if the next announcement would be that Tommy had extended his contract. I'd start walking from Hexham to the Vic tomorrow.

RobboBTC, Farnborough says...
9:30pm Wed 1 Jul 09

Brendan Rodgers would almost certainly know every detail regarding our dire financial situation, as it was only a matter of weeks ago he was planning for next season at Watford (until he p*ssed off to Reading) & I am sure it is he who told Reading to put in a bid of only £800k, thinking that we may be tempted. I do believe Smith will be sold & for £1.5mil tops. Although I hope not!

HOOF, England says...
9:51pm Wed 1 Jul 09

£800k, go fcuk yourself Rodgers u Judas scum!!!

You tell em Jimmy.

martin62, abbots langley says...
9:52pm Wed 1 Jul 09

I think RobboBTC is spot on price wise, and if he has to go then anywhere but Reading. Also a move to the Premiership avoids him coming back to haunt us. However, we all know money talks and if Judas wants him bad enough........

a1derek, St Albans says...
10:21pm Wed 1 Jul 09

Great that Jimmy has come out and said this - very well done.

Now stick to it! (please)

derry pigweed, northampton says...
11:15pm Wed 1 Jul 09

nice to see an honest reaction and opinion from the watford chairman! this has been missing for a lomg time!
How is the travel buisness Homer?

There was only one Scully, Watford says...
11:32pm Wed 1 Jul 09

A total disgrace from a parasite who knows our predicament. If we are to sell Tommy lets hope his not given away and more to the point why does he want to move to another chumpo club that may not make the cut next season. Dont turn into a mug Tommy and follow the silver dollar, money is not everything!

pfwhornets, Tring says...
11:34pm Wed 1 Jul 09

Nice one Jimmy...

...I'm proud of you..

hollywood101, borehamwood says...
11:50pm Wed 1 Jul 09

Smith has yellow blood, i hope he stays.

well done Mr Russo.

(cue a bid for 850k being accepted) !!

Garston Tony, Garston says...
9:19am Thu 2 Jul 09

It seems that whilst WFC is a selling club its in a position to say not at any price and to hold out for realistic offers. Seems BR may have been behind the low offer but then he has underestimated it seems the board who are not about to have a fire sale

Hexham Hornet, HEXHAM says...
9:29am Thu 2 Jul 09

Tynedale Hornet wrote:
I'm feeling positive at the moment. A few months ago the club would have denied a story like this and then sold him for half the price. Maybe I'm in dreamland but what an incredible boost it would be if the next announcement would be that Tommy had extended his contract. I'd start walking from Hexham to the Vic tomorrow.
We could walk down together. I agree with you about positive vibes. It is starting to feel like the Watford of old. I would rather he left on a free after his contract ends, so we get a good season out of him, than let him go for a fraction of what he is worth to us. If we do well he may want to stay anyway!!

WFC-2009, Watford says...
10:26am Thu 2 Jul 09

Hi all, I am new to this forum, but as a life long WFC fan, felt I had to comment on this.

Well done Jimmy, it is good to see the passion from the boardroom.

I suspect that Tommy will leave us for the right money, but it is important that on leaving that we as fans are pleased for the man and that he joins the ranks of "Watford Legends". If he did defect to Reading, I think it would turn a lot of fans against the board and maybe even against Tommy.

And BTW, he is easily worth at least £1m. If you are going to let him go Jimmy... hold out for the right dosh.

Bendean, St Albans says...
10:31am Thu 2 Jul 09

Oh well - looks like he's on his way for £500k plus add ons.

GrahamTaylor, Watford says...
10:40am Thu 2 Jul 09

LOL - The only reason for the Russo's to go public is to try and start a bidding war.

You will all be back in a couple of weeks saying how much you were lied to.

remember we have turned down £800K not said he is not for sale.

A deal of £1M + add ons will do it.

Financially we are not in a position to pick and choose where he goes.

Dublinhornet, Dublin says...
12:12pm Thu 2 Jul 09

You heard it here first!! We have lined up Killian Brennan as a replacement for Tommy Smith. Killian Brennan is currently playing for Bohemians and the rumours are abundent that he is due to sign for us shortly.

goatswilly, London says...
12:27pm Thu 2 Jul 09

Dublinhornet wrote:
You heard it here first!! We have lined up Killian Brennan as a replacement for Tommy Smith. Killian Brennan is currently playing for Bohemians and the rumours are abundent that he is due to sign for us shortly.
John-Boy, is that you???

Johnjones1959, Aylesbury says...
2:08pm Thu 2 Jul 09

Lets get real for a minute, Watford WILL sell Tommy if the right priced offer comes in, I don't think anyone would dispute that I don't want him to go but I'd rather see the horns be around in 18 months time if that's what it takes, the right price would represent good business, I hope he has the ambition to go to the premiership and not a two bob outfit down the M4.

Isn't it nice to have a new scum to hate other than that drab sh*thole up the M1

BELGIAN HORNET, MASNUY-ST-JEAN says...
2:58pm Thu 2 Jul 09

Tommy stay at Watford. BR will win 3 games with Reading and then do a Paul Ince and disappear up the M1 or M6 to any club that offers him £10 a week more.

Dublinhornet, Dublin says...
3:01pm Thu 2 Jul 09

Johnjones1959 wrote:
Lets get real for a minute, Watford WILL sell Tommy if the right priced offer comes in, I don't think anyone would dispute that I don't want him to go but I'd rather see the horns be around in 18 months time if that's what it takes, the right price would represent good business, I hope he has the ambition to go to the premiership and not a two bob outfit down the M4. Isn't it nice to have a new scum to hate other than that drab sh*thole up the M1
Yes it is me!!

JonBoy, Watford says...
3:14pm Thu 2 Jul 09

This is obviously the first shot in a negotiation. I agree with GT, he will go at the right price and people will moan at Jimmy for lying to them. Read what he says it's all about ther being no deal at the moment not that there won't be one.

Spencer Hutchinson, Javea says...
3:29pm Thu 2 Jul 09

I can only say if the board let smith go to Reading for such silly money, they should all resign, the price to reading should be 2,800,000, they dont like it "hard"

pstannard4, Watford says...
3:33pm Thu 2 Jul 09

I would ask for silly money like Real, for Ronaldo, KAKA and Benzma of Lyon.

6.5 mil from Reading for our star player will do it.

pstannard4, Watford says...
4:31pm Thu 2 Jul 09

forgot to say has anyone relised that despite the lack of money and midfielder Scott Severin, we have had limited transfer activity

the sniper, watford says...
6:02pm Thu 2 Jul 09

Smiffy for £800k, Rodgers you're an a*sh*le,the more you're linked to our top players the more I detest you. Why not take Ellington for £1.99 and do the Hornets a favour.Don't go Tommy!

pstannard4, Watford says...
8:37pm Thu 2 Jul 09

the sniper wrote:
Smiffy for £800k, Rodgers you're an a*sh*le,the more you're linked to our top players the more I detest you. Why not take Ellington for £1.99 and do the Hornets a favour.Don't go Tommy!
or better
give Ellington to Reading for 99p and give him a flake and extra sprinkles

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