Ashcroft ready to sell up
Fans were given a run down on Watford's financial position and potential happenings in the near future.
Interim chairman Graham Taylor, CEO Julian Winter, director Stuart Timperly and Malky Mackay were all at Vicarage Road on Monday evening to answer questions at a Fans Forum.
Taylor began by addressing the involvement of shareholder Lord Ashcroft revealing that they have recently met.
He said that Ashcroft was only using the club as an investment.
The interim chairman declared that he is unsure how long he will remain in his current capacity but insisted that he never expected or actively wanted to be chairman.
Former owners Jimmy and Vince Russo will be contacted and treated professionally in spite of recent events added Taylor, while the East Stand will continue to remain undeveloped unless a long-term public partnership can be sorted out.
After a short interval the panel added that Elton John will no longer be financially involved with Watford and said that the club must stabilise in order to present itself as an attractive proposition for prospective investors.
On the footballing side of things Mackay justified his January transfers, including the acquisition of Martin Taylor who was one of his main targets.
Any further transfers or contract renewals are subject to private discussion with the players and their respective clubs explained Mackay, but the manager seemed content with his recent signings.
It was also revealed that Portsmouth are on track in regards to their payments for the signings of Tommy Smith and Mike Williamson from the Hornets.
Defender Williamson may well be lining up against Mackay's men for Newcastle during Saturday's encounter at Vicarage Road.
The Magpies currently lead The Championship but Watford will be eager to continue with their impressive home form.
The Hornets have had their fair share of late drama on the road this season, and Saturday's trip to Scunthorpe was no exception.
While a 2-2 draw and more specifically a point may represent a good result for the Hornets given a poor run of form on their travels, it was a game that should have yielded maximum points.
Despite being reduced to 10 men following a straight red for Tom Cleverley, Mackay's troops battled from behind to grab what appeared to be a late winner through John Eustace.
However Watford were once more at the sharp end of controversy as a 95th minute penalty was awarded and converted after Jay DeMerit was penalised for an alleged handball.
With last Tuesday's encounter at QPR postponed due to the weather, the Hornets arrived in Yorkshire having not played for 11 days, but gave a good account of themselves.
Both defences were busy but the home team took the lead on 42 minutes as Gary Hooper coolly converted past Scott Loach.
Watford did not deserve to be trailing at the break but grabbed an equaliser on 63 minutes courtesy of Danny Graham.
The forward's goal-rate has dried up somewhat in recent months, but Graham expertly finished following a host of chances for Mackay's team in the Scunthorpe box.
Opportunities continued to present themselves at both ends but it was in the centre of the pitch that the next piece of action took place, one which was to the detriment of Watford's winning chances.
A lunging tackle by Cleverley on Michael O'Connor earned the youngster a straight red and the Hornets had to play on with 10 men.
Much to the joy of the travelling 'Orns however, Watford responded as Eustace headed in Jon Harley's corner.
With the 90 minutes up a win seemed to be on the cards, only for Hooper to be granted the penalty which yet again denied Mackay an away win.
The manager remained adamant that DeMerit did not handle the ball, with damage to the captain's face as proof.
This was another one of the issues discussed during Monday night's Fans Forum.
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Weather for Tring
Saturday 26 May 2012
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