1:50pm Tuesday 11th August 2009
By Frank Smith
Malky Mackay claims no Watford player will be leaving unless the club believes their valuation has been met.
Tamas Priskin was sold to Ipswich last week due to the striker being in the last year of his contract and supporters are now becoming anxious over the future of Tommy Smith, who is also in the final year of his current deal.
Smith has already been the subject of a successful £1.8m bid from Sheffield United and a rejected £750,000 offer from Reading.
But Mackay has assured fans Smith will remain a Watford player unless somebody makes the right offer.
The Hornets’ boss said: “Tommy Smith situation is he has played 90 minutes and right now he is our player, that is Tommy’s situation.
“I have openly stated he is one of the best players in the division and I would love to have him as long as I can have him.
“If anyone makes a bid for any of the players then you have to look at that on its own merit but it has to be a figure which is worth it to the football club so it can go on and until such times, there will be nobody leaving the football club.
“These things are done on their individual merits and right now Tommy is still in the starting XI and I am delighted that is the case.
“I said yesterday [Friday] that I want to lock him up somewhere for the next three weeks but he goes in and puts in another quality performance today [Saturday].”
Mackay was speaking during his post-match press conference following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Doncaster Rovers.
To hear the Scot’s views on Smith, Danny Graham, Scott Severin, Priskin’s replacement and the draw with Doncaster Rovers, click below.
To go to the Watford Observer’s new audio section, click here.
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