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Extended interview with Pozzo family and Nani (From Watford Observer)
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Extended interview with new Watford owners the Pozzos and Gianluca Nani
4:00pm Friday 6th July 2012 in Watford FC News
By Frank Smith, Deputy Group Sports Editor
The Pozzos insist Watford will not become a feeder club for Udinese and have stressed their goal is to establish the Hornets in the Premier League.
The Italian family, who also own La Liga outfit Granada, completed their takeover of Watford on Friday.
Giampaolo Pozzo has owned Udinese since 1986 but it is his son Gino who will have a more hands-on role when it comes to the Hornets.
Although the day-to-day running of the club will be left to chief executive Scott Duxbury and technical director Gianluca Nani, who worked together at West Ham United for two years.
Udinese have a remarkable scouting network and sign a vast number of young players with the view to developing them and then selling on for vast profit.
Due to the Italian club’s large squad, they send several loan players to Granada each season – there were five from the Italian club last year.
The Watford Observer submitted a host of questions for the new regime this week and later that afternoon the club released a statement which addressed some of the queries, whilst also providing direct responses.
When we asked if the Hornets would become a feeder club for Udinese, similar to Granada, the Pozzo family replied “no”.
The Pozzos said: “Every project will be individual and local in its development, and we will add to that the advantages we can take from synergies of operation across the group.”
However, they then added: “The club will be run along the tried and tested model of Udinese and Granada but it will remain special to its supporters because there is no way the local values will be in any way compromised.
“We know England is a very different country to others, and football has its own culture. We respect that enormously, and we are aware how much the club means to its fans and the local community. Nothing will change in this respect.”
Watford’s Harefield Academy is one of the best in England and has been used as an example for other clubs ahead of this summer’s overhaul of the country’s youth system.
The Pozzos stated the academy will continue to be “very important” to Watford’s future progress.
However, this was followed with: “But of course we want to make the most of our world-class scouting network, which has many years of football experience behind it.
“That is the advantage of being part of a wider group, a wider family of clubs.
“Maintaining Watford’s identity is key to having long-term success.
“This is not just another club; this is Watford and we recognise just how important the individual nature of a football club is to its supporters.
“No more so than in England, in fact. We’re very passionate about football, and the English style reflects the true spirit of the game.”
We asked the Hornets’ new owners whether there will be an influx of foreign players at Watford, similar to Udinese and Granada, and the club replied by saying the answer is in the above comments, which were included in the Pozzos’ statement.
When questioned whether that meant there would be a small number of foreign imports of around five, which was the case at Granada last season, we were again told that was covered in the statement.
Udinese have managed to build a side who have reached the Champions League qualifying round for the last two seasons, while still being sustainable, by selling a number of their star players each summer.
We asked whether the same thing will be happening at Watford and whether there are any immediate plans to sell players this summer.
Nani said: “Sales are a normal part of football business, although it is the intention for the project to retain its key playing assets in order to achieve the ambition of becoming a successful club.”
Nani, Duxbury and Gianfranco Zola worked together at West Ham United before the club was taken over and the Pozzos this week revealed it was Duxbury and Nani who put the proposal takeover of Watford to the family, rather than the other way round as many had expected.
The Pozzos told the Watford Observer: “We have shared the vision put to us by Gianluca Nani and Scott Duxbury. We are supporting this vision, this project, but they will be the people delivering the plans into Watford.”
When asked whether there were other investors or partners alongside them, the Pozzos stated they were the sole owners.
It was also confirmed the Pozzos have carried on a payment structure with the club’s bondholders, which sees a sum paid to Lord Ashcroft, Graham Simpson and David Fransen each year.
The Pozzos said: “The bondholders have been entirely supportive throughout and they remain committed partners to us.”
The family revealed they had the chance to buy other English clubs but felt Watford was the best option.
When asked how long they had been interested in the Hornets, the Pozzos replied: “This has not been a knee-jerk decision.
“There was a long period of due diligence conducted, and the opportunities unique to Watford were clear.”
They added: “We were offered a number of opportunities in England, but the project we believed had the greatest potential is Watford.”
There have been several high profile cases where foreign ownership has ended badly for English clubs and the Pozzos used Tuesday’s statement to try to ease Hornets supporters.
They stated their vision was to “provide financial and technical support” so that success could be achieved over a lengthy period of time.
“We are here for the long-term,” the family said. “This is not a case of a foreign owner with an injection of money looking for a quick return.
“Our aim is clear: we wish to establish Watford as a Premier League club, which has revenue to help it become self-sufficient over time.
“There are no promises of timescale; only that it is our stated ambition to be in the Premier League so that everyone connected with Watford, all of us, can enjoy a successful and sustainable future.
“Longevity is key to success. It is only over many years that success can be judged.”
Udinese are currently redeveloping their ground and the Pozzos stated: “development of Watford’s stadium and the East Stand remains an essential part of our project”.
The family said: “Any club must have the right facilities if it is to expect revenues which help support it reach its ambitions. Watford is no different in this regard.”
The Pozzos ended their statement by saying: “We don’t see football as a business.
“It’s a passion for us. We have been proposed a project so exciting that it moved us to support this through funding.
“We are not expecting a financial return, rather we see it as privilege to be involved with Watford. But we must be professional in all that we do, to get the right results on behalf of the club.
“We believe Watford will benefit greatly from the experience of the Pozzo family over many years.
“We are hoping all fans will join us as our vision for Watford takes shape.”
Comments(51)
Colin West's mullet
says...
4:13pm Fri 6 Jul 12
AngelHornet
says...
4:13pm Fri 6 Jul 12
craig239
says...
4:22pm Fri 6 Jul 12
BarryTheHornet
says...
4:28pm Fri 6 Jul 12
a1derek
says...
4:33pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Boxhorn
says...
4:33pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Assuming it is Zola then he will want input to who his staff are going to be and that will take more than a day or two - still it would be nice to be told 'officially' that he is Watford's new manager
Boxhorn
says...
4:34pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Mickey Quinn, not so thin
says...
4:51pm Fri 6 Jul 12
a1derek wrote:completely agree.
Extended interview my ****. This is simply a "cut and paste" job from the official statement put out earlier in the week. What a waste of cyberspace.
aussihornet
says...
4:55pm Fri 6 Jul 12
....SO WHO IS GOING TO BE COACHING THEM.. DECISION NEEDS TO BE MADE...
...BTW, NICE STATEMENT ON OTHER ISSUES :)
mkhornet
says...
5:06pm Fri 6 Jul 12
craig239
says...
5:06pm Fri 6 Jul 12
craig239
says...
5:10pm Fri 6 Jul 12
craig239
says...
5:15pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Sean has gone!
7 days to tell us see Watford site
gilesy97
says...
5:16pm Fri 6 Jul 12
andyhooked
says...
5:17pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Smilingburkinshaw
says...
5:27pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Bringe
says...
5:42pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Of course you know all the rest and we've been through the wringer since but never have I been happier about a takeover as I am now. Even SEJ and GT had to grow on me but I see straight away that the Pozzo's are intent on a scheme I could've invented myself - only they won't be floundering as I'm sure I would be, their record speaks loudly for itself.
Embrace Europe, it is a better place than those Tory spivs would have you believe. (France not included naturally)
cliff46
says...
5:46pm Fri 6 Jul 12
grahamwfc
says...
6:03pm Fri 6 Jul 12
cliff46 wrote:**** right - I thought we had signed Nani from Manu
Same info in a different order, what a waste of time and the headline is totally misleading.
lutondown
says...
6:06pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Bringe wrote:Good to see some positivity among all the harbingers of doom!
A hornet since 69, weekends spent bunking trains or hitch-hiking to far away towns, getting caught and ejected time and again as I snuck past turnstile after turnstile until some good soul decided to look the other way. I've passed around those wooden boxes and buckets collecting pennies and sixpenses. Wet weekdays on some northern terrace knowing I'm for the high jump back home.
Of course you know all the rest and we've been through the wringer since but never have I been happier about a takeover as I am now. Even SEJ and GT had to grow on me but I see straight away that the Pozzo's are intent on a scheme I could've invented myself - only they won't be floundering as I'm sure I would be, their record speaks loudly for itself.
Embrace Europe, it is a better place than those Tory spivs would have you believe. (France not included naturally)
It makes you realise what little Englanders we are at Watford, unless of course it's fighting deportation of certain players, to suit.
Your post is spot on and I share
your anticipation.
I am genuinely sorry for Sean, but such is football, and it works all ways and always has. If a bigger club had offered Sean more money, better prospects he would have been off. Let's not get to dewy eyed over this.
Anyway onwards and upwards and I am really enjoying the sour grapes among the more sanctimonious posters.
Ronny the Rocket L Hubcap
Christ the scientist Church
Somewhere up and over the moon.
By the way can we change that monotonous and meaningless chant of Yellow to Good Fellows? If you don't I'll speak to Tony, and dat wood not be gud
FelixTheHorn
says...
6:55pm Fri 6 Jul 12
The thing is, if this hadn't happened, the moaners would be whingeing about being 3 hours away from administration, or Rodgers/ Mackay leaving us, or where the money from player sales had gone, or the new kit or whatever.
This is different, and I think these guys mean business.
I'm REALLY REALLY sorry for SD, and I'd have preferred if he'd been given a chance. It's ironic in a way though, that the past two managerial changes have been because of bigger clubs coming in for the manager, whereas this change is because of a bigger club coming in for the club!
Onwards ad upwards I reckon.
COYH!
lutondown
says...
8:40pm Fri 6 Jul 12
FelixTheHorn wrote:Felixstowe, your one cool cat! Lol
Too right Bringe and lutondown.
The thing is, if this hadn't happened, the moaners would be whingeing about being 3 hours away from administration, or Rodgers/ Mackay leaving us, or where the money from player sales had gone, or the new kit or whatever.
This is different, and I think these guys mean business.
I'm REALLY REALLY sorry for SD, and I'd have preferred if he'd been given a chance. It's ironic in a way though, that the past two managerial changes have been because of bigger clubs coming in for the manager, whereas this change is because of a bigger club coming in for the club!
Onwards ad upwards I reckon.
COYH!
Yes we will be no ones mugs here on!
C'mon you good fellas
Ron related to mother Hubbard
lutondown
says...
8:44pm Fri 6 Jul 12
I have a foe named Tony Macmoany
He's adverse to a plate of Macaroni
I dislike him
He dislikes me
Think how happy he would be
Watching Watford playing in Division three.
Ron L (lyricist) Hubnuts
BarryTheHornet
says...
8:59pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Bringe wrote:Total respect for you Bringe and your post.
A hornet since 69, weekends spent bunking trains or hitch-hiking to far away towns, getting caught and ejected time and again as I snuck past turnstile after turnstile until some good soul decided to look the other way. I've passed around those wooden boxes and buckets collecting pennies and sixpenses. Wet weekdays on some northern terrace knowing I'm for the high jump back home.
Of course you know all the rest and we've been through the wringer since but never have I been happier about a takeover as I am now. Even SEJ and GT had to grow on me but I see straight away that the Pozzo's are intent on a scheme I could've invented myself - only they won't be floundering as I'm sure I would be, their record speaks loudly for itself.
Embrace Europe, it is a better place than those Tory spivs would have you believe. (France not included naturally)
bushey tales
says...
9:05pm Fri 6 Jul 12
lutondown
says...
9:13pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Bringe wrote:and the long gone characters from those days, Hermit, Barry Oshea, Ginger Kerry and many others you would find on the terraces at Workington on the sole Smiths of Tring coach that trundled the nation!
A hornet since 69, weekends spent bunking trains or hitch-hiking to far away towns, getting caught and ejected time and again as I snuck past turnstile after turnstile until some good soul decided to look the other way. I've passed around those wooden boxes and buckets collecting pennies and sixpenses. Wet weekdays on some northern terrace knowing I'm for the high jump back home.
Of course you know all the rest and we've been through the wringer since but never have I been happier about a takeover as I am now. Even SEJ and GT had to grow on me but I see straight away that the Pozzo's are intent on a scheme I could've invented myself - only they won't be floundering as I'm sure I would be, their record speaks loudly for itself.
Embrace Europe, it is a better place than those Tory spivs would have you believe. (France not included naturally)
Danny Sharky who used to stand at the top of Occupation road, he with the shock of white hair.
Wilf the Sunderland gent who sat at the top of the stairs of the old supporters club.
Roger Flemming who transformed the Watford Supporters club.
Great Watford folk from a not so great era..
I almost forgot selling golden goal tickets to earn a free entrance to the game
Another reminisce!
Bringe
says...
9:39pm Fri 6 Jul 12
lutondown
says...
9:47pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Everyone knew everyone them days. Something lost to all seated stadia.
Be good to get a fourth stand up, and let the good times roll.
Do remember one more that dropped off the end of the world. Mick the Orphan..?
Vespa Crabro
says...
10:07pm Fri 6 Jul 12
bushey tales wrote:Strangely enough they like to sell the odd 'paper, before giving away all the "news content" for free!
How does it takes until 4 o'clock to reproduce an article that appeared in this morning's paper?
Bringe
says...
10:15pm Fri 6 Jul 12
lutondown
says...
10:22pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Vespa Crabro wrote:I think I remember you, there was this lad that seemed to be at all the games, went up by train ( ducking and diving). It's a vague memory, but something about a black Harrington. I was born 62 so a tad younger than yourself, but I was a regular, always went with my mate Graham, we got young supporters of the year, when we got relegated to division four for the amount of away games we attended by coach.
bushey tales wrote:Strangely enough they like to sell the odd 'paper, before giving away all the "news content" for free!
How does it takes until 4 o'clock to reproduce an article that appeared in this morning's paper?
We lived for the weekends, and the sports Echo!
We would have definetly crossed paths
Smilingburkinshaw
says...
10:27pm Fri 6 Jul 12
lutondown
says...
10:27pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Vespa Crabro wrote:strange that and damned them for not releasing news that hasn't been announced. Nothing reported in Italy either.
bushey tales wrote:Strangely enough they like to sell the odd 'paper, before giving away all the "news content" for free!
How does it takes until 4 o'clock to reproduce an article that appeared in this morning's paper?
lutondown
says...
10:31pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Smilingburkinshaw wrote:Perhaps he takes tea at ma Bassinis Delicattessen? That would turn his head. Salt beef, Chicken soup and loads of regurgitated BS
My mate Kelvin is a div because he likes Bassini
Smilingburkinshaw
says...
10:38pm Fri 6 Jul 12
lutondown wrote:I think the deli is a front for a more illicit business. Although he'd still probably send that bust! Pardon the pun.
Smilingburkinshaw wrote:Perhaps he takes tea at ma Bassinis Delicattessen? That would turn his head. Salt beef, Chicken soup and loads of regurgitated BS
My mate Kelvin is a div because he likes Bassini
Bringe
says...
10:41pm Fri 6 Jul 12
lutondown
says...
10:48pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Bringe wrote:Yep dark curly hair! Green parka? Possibly!
Graham, dark curly hair? green parka? **** I need a memory pill. Think my harrington jacket was a dark navy but that sounds like me, I was a bit of a loner.
And a vision comes to mind of a tall slim lad, possibly dark hair, god it seems another life away..remember someone called Mark as well
Bringe
says...
10:57pm Fri 6 Jul 12
lutondown
says...
11:06pm Fri 6 Jul 12
Bringe wrote:You would have seemed tall to me back then, everyone did.
I was skinny but not particularly tall, darkish longish hair. The name Mark rings a bell Mines Bri lived in Hemel.
Mines Dan, possibly Daniel in them days. Fair curlyish hair that was cropped to a number two when hairstyle become an option!
I think I have you! It's the lad who always seemed to be there, travelled by train (which I envied) and lets face it there weren't that many of us at them remote outposts!
Good to reacquaint bud
Bringe
says...
11:16pm Fri 6 Jul 12
FelixTheHorn
says...
1:48am Sat 7 Jul 12
lutondown wrote:Which song? I love T Rex.
How about a bit of T Rex for my nemesis? I have a foe named Tony Macmoany He's adverse to a plate of Macaroni I dislike him He dislikes me Think how happy he would be Watching Watford playing in Division three. Ron L (lyricist) Hubnuts
An we need some decent lyricists.
Yellow Army!
lutondown
says...
6:19am Sat 7 Jul 12
FelixTheHorn wrote:Sorry to mislead mate
lutondown wrote:Which song? I love T Rex.
How about a bit of T Rex for my nemesis? I have a foe named Tony Macmoany He's adverse to a plate of Macaroni I dislike him He dislikes me Think how happy he would be Watching Watford playing in Division three. Ron L (lyricist) Hubnuts
An we need some decent lyricists.
Yellow Army!
I think if you go back to that post from me it's a spoof of bony maronie by t Rex! Just having a dig at someone who lets just say this as politely as possible, is a freaking jerk.
Agree, loved Bolan..ride a white swan etc images of white Baggys, tree top DMs, silk scarfs....u 'Orns
aefevans
says...
9:44am Sat 7 Jul 12
craig239 wrote:Heh. Sean Bean.
Here's the problem: they leaked out Zola's name in the Italian Press. This caused a reaction here. Big Mistake.Now they need to communicat urgently because we look stupid. Has Sean been sacked?
JohnnyHornet
says...
10:05am Sat 7 Jul 12
gilesy97 wrote:Great news, when my credit card company want immediate payment 7 days is fine by me.
Sean Dyche has contract terminated with immediate effect...statement on Watford website.
Bringe
says...
10:10am Sat 7 Jul 12
Our ages don't quite tally and thinking about it I probably did most of my travelling while Watford were actually on the way down to the 4th but not in it, by the time we were there it would've been only the local away games I could manage which weren't that many. However at the Vic I'm sure I used to sometimes chat with you and Graham about the game I'd missed as there weren't many youngsters at those faraway games and your ages fit, you might even remember my Chelsea loving mate Nick. By then I was working saturday mornings on Hemel market and those long awaydays were often replaced with a quick trip to the Bridge or whichever London club Chelsea were playing at. Don't ask me why because I didn't even cheer their goals.
However, on those earlier away trips I often had a fellow fare dodger companion, tall, skinny, dark long haired lad, a lttle older and very lairy. I tried to avoid him so please don't confuse him with me. Named Mark? ... yes it seems to fit.
Danny with his white hair and green bomber jacket, Wilf it's all coming back. In the social after one match Ginger, his mates and me and Nick all decided the Rookery was old hat and the "Scoreboard boys" were born much to the chagrin of the local bobbies and of course the then famous PC 38 (or was it 48?).
My family, me included, moved to the Isle of Man the following year so I missed the early GT years however I managed to escape back to England the day after my Brickies apprenticeship finished and just in time to catch John Barnes's debut.
Cheers and what a nice trip down memory lane .... we really were footy addicts!
lutondown
says...
10:37am Sat 7 Jul 12
Bringe wrote:I think the long haired lairy lad was Hermit, bit of a nut job. Remember the move to the Bogside as I think they named it. And it was 48 of we hate 48 fame!
Hey Dan!
Our ages don't quite tally and thinking about it I probably did most of my travelling while Watford were actually on the way down to the 4th but not in it, by the time we were there it would've been only the local away games I could manage which weren't that many. However at the Vic I'm sure I used to sometimes chat with you and Graham about the game I'd missed as there weren't many youngsters at those faraway games and your ages fit, you might even remember my Chelsea loving mate Nick. By then I was working saturday mornings on Hemel market and those long awaydays were often replaced with a quick trip to the Bridge or whichever London club Chelsea were playing at. Don't ask me why because I didn't even cheer their goals.
However, on those earlier away trips I often had a fellow fare dodger companion, tall, skinny, dark long haired lad, a lttle older and very lairy. I tried to avoid him so please don't confuse him with me. Named Mark? ... yes it seems to fit.
Danny with his white hair and green bomber jacket, Wilf it's all coming back. In the social after one match Ginger, his mates and me and Nick all decided the Rookery was old hat and the "Scoreboard boys" were born much to the chagrin of the local bobbies and of course the then famous PC 38 (or was it 48?).
My family, me included, moved to the Isle of Man the following year so I missed the early GT years however I managed to escape back to England the day after my Brickies apprenticeship finished and just in time to catch John Barnes's debut.
Cheers and what a nice trip down memory lane .... we really were footy addicts!
Still think I remember you, and certainly not as an edit, but all a long time now so are memories confused with fantasy?
I started going away at the age of12 and such was camaraderie of that single Smiths of Tring coach, we never come to any harm.
Truly great fans in not so good times.
Looking forward to the future with the Italians and looking back with great fondness
And I do remember a Nick!
It's flooding back!
D.unstable
says...
11:04am Sat 7 Jul 12
lutondown
says...
1:25pm Sat 7 Jul 12
D.unstable wrote:Well you are a dodgy one Mr D downs!
I think people are watching me!!!
Bringe
says...
5:38pm Sat 7 Jul 12
Remember one long trip and I think your coach broke down, I was literally facing loads of abuse on my ownsome (and giving it back of course) ... for the life of me I can't remember where or if you even got there in the end..... happy days.
watford1881
says...
10:42pm Sat 7 Jul 12
hollywood101 says...
4:12pm Fri 6 Jul 12