4:30pm Friday 5th February 2010
By Frank Smith
‘Taking one step back to move two steps forward’ is how Martin Taylor has described his switch from Premier League high-flyers Birmingham City to Championship side Watford.
Taylor completed his free transfer from Birmingham, who are currently eighth in the Premier League, on Friday afternoon and after Saturday’s match with Swansea City was called off, the 30-year-old marked his Hornets debut on Tuesday night with victory and a clean sheet.
Taylor had been at Birmingham for six years following his £1.25m transfer from Blackburn Rovers in 2004 and was a crucial part of the City side which gained promotion to the top flight in 2007 and 2009.
However, injury and the form of those ahead of him have meant Taylor had not played a competitive game this season.
Taylor explained: “It has been frustrating and I knew I needed to get some games in so I guess it is a case of taking one step back into the Championship to then take two steps forward, which is what I wanted to do.”
He continued: “It was a decision I needed to make, obviously, having to come down but I haven’t been playing this season.
“I have been out through injury most of the season and the lads have been doing well without me, so I felt it was time to move on and I spoke to the manager here and everything I heard was great and I spoke to a few people around the place and it sounded like it would be a good adventure for me.”
When asked where he hoped that ‘adventure’ would take him, he replied: “Hopefully it will take us to the Premier League. When you start a season in the Championship, that is what every team wants.
“There are still a lot of clubs which have a sniff of the play-offs and whilst you are around there – there are 19 games left – there is still a chance of you getting in there.
“I think two or three results and performances like that [3-0 win against Sheffield United] and I think we will have the belief that we can do that.”
Taylor has made more than 250 appearances in the Football League, so Birmingham almost certainly could have received a transfer fee for the 30-year-old.
Watford’s financial situation meant they would not have been able to afford to purchase the centre back had City asked for a fee, so Hornets manager Malky Mackay has thanked Birmingham boss Alex McLeish for helping make the move possible.
“Full credit to Birmingham City in helping making this deal happen,” Mackay said.
“The fact they let their experienced centre back go on a free allows me to do this deal, no other reason.
“That allows me and Graham Taylor the chance to sell this club to Martin Taylor. He came down and had a look at what we are doing at the moment and what we would like to see him do here.
“I see someone who has vast experience, is an intelligent lad and wants to commit to a football club and play football for the next three-and-a-half years.
“I am delighted to get him. I think he is a great signing for us.
“He has been at the club four days. He is short of match practice as he has sat on the bench and you could see he was short of match practice in the final ten minutes [on Tuesday] but to be fair, for him to go and do what he did for 80 minutes, I have to be delighted with him.”
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