I hope now that you guys will finally put all this nonsense about SEJ contributing in some way... TO BED!!!

Its Sad...
So Sad...
Why Can't We Talk It Over

He's having one of his infamous hissy fits again!
Goodbye yellow brick road.

His best game was on the wing against wolves in a testimonial game for ?????? Anyone? must have been late seventies.

What did this role intake anyway?

I hope he does still carry on being a fan of a club even fi his does not like the current situation.

Afterall we all will still be supporters?

so the saviour of this club on every occasion walks away becasue he wants nothing to do with the board.

and you numptys.(your not fans) have a go at him.

to be honest VOR you can **** off and the rest of u are a disgrace hang ur heads in shame.

why should he save the club with these people in charge.

you invest your money in these jokers.

The implication here is that Boothroyd going was the final straw as far as Elton is concerned. By extension I take that to mean that Boothroyd was either sacked or forced out.

What a sad day. If Elton feels so strongly about it I can only hope that he puts his money where his mouth is but this very much has the feeling of him walking away completely.

Simpson - what are you doing to our club? You're a disgrace.

VoR - are you turning into the new Colin or what with your snide comments?

It is not good news to have Elton go. His role was probably honorary, but to have someone that so shaped the history of this club in the last three and a half decades decide he wants nothing to do with the running of the club is sad. Isn't it about time we got some good news?

I am sure he will be back but this is Elton's way of showing the dislike for the current board and situation at the club.

I think this is a massively damning indictment on the current regime at Vicarage Road.

When someone who has put so much into the club in the past - and is clearly a passionate fan - decides to resign from what is really an honorary position, it does truly show just how far removed the club now is from all the good traditions, ethos and reputation Watford FC once had.

I was no fan of Boothroyd and I couldn't see him turning things around. But given a choice of him being first through the exit door, or the current chairman and CEO, I'd have kept Boothroyd.

Do these people really want to sell the club? Do they really want to do what they say, and act in the best interests of Watford FC?

If so, go - as soon as possible.

Don't appoint a new manager. Don't waste any more of our limited resources. Don't hang around because you're really not wanted.

Drop your price, do whatever it takes to hasten a purchase.

But go now.

Rarely post on here, the standard of debate is too high for me.

Maybe I'm one of the oldest readers of this site, otherwise it seems incredible how short some memories can be.

I'll always be grateful to Elton for the amazing times he brought to the club in his 2 stints as chairman, but this is also a guy who has not once, but twice left the club completely up **** creek.

Of course it was his money and he was/is quite entitled to spend it as he sees fit, but remember in 1987, it was Elton who tried to sell our club first to Robert Maxwell, then Paul Raymond, before finally landing on Jack Petchey. If only this message board had existed in those days!

And when the club faced what was surely its most critical time in 2002 in the days following the collapse of ITV digital, Elton was one of the first to jump in the lifeboat.

So yes, hugely grateful for what Elton brought to the club, but please lets get some perspective, Elton hasn't proved to be the great leader and saviour whenever the going has got tough.

Sunbury - if you have a long memory, you'll remember Vicarage Road (and the status of Watford generally) pre Elton John.

If he had not arrived when he did, achieved what he achieved, spent what he spent and cared as he cared, the current mob would never have got the chance to do what they're doing.

I don't care when and how he walked away - Elton is massively, massively in credit as far as Watford are concerned.

Sunbury Horn--I presume your comment on the "standard of debate" is ironic, since your own contribution is very well put. You are right to remind us that Elton is revered by many Watford fans, but his behaviour regarding the club has sometimes been erratic and not always well judged-- e.g. you forgot to say it was he who appointed Basset after GT left. Lucky indeed there was no such thing as the internet then--the modern chairman has to play out his hand under a constant, instant barrage of comment , speculation, rumour and spite that makes his job well nigh impossible even when things are going well. And am I being paranoid or is there an emerging pattern here? The Russos call an EGM, Boothroyd goes (perhaps at his own initiative) and Elton publically distances himself from the club. As James Bond said: once is an accident, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action. But that could not possibly be the case , could it?

Vicar Rage, I'd never wish to deny that he's massively in credit, I am saying that we shouldn't be treating his words with the reverence that some on here seem to attach to them. Its some perspective that I'm calling for.

Thanks Roger68, I was indeed making a poor attempt at being ironic. And how could I forget Sir Elton's appointment of Bassett (and of course Vialli!!)

You may of course be right about the emerging pattern, I hadn't thought of that myself, tending instead towards the **** up theory, where Sir Elton's recent comments seem more a case of toys being thrown from prams.

Grigg wrote:
VoR - are you turning into the new Colin or what with your snide comments?

It is not good news to have Elton go. His role was probably honorary, but to have someone that so shaped the history of this club in the last three and a half decades decide he wants nothing to do with the running of the club is sad. Isn't it about time we got some good news?

Grigg,
Victim of Radiation is the new colin
He,s got to be a scummer in disguise

VoR wrote:
He's having one of his infamous hissy fits again!
Goodbye yellow brick road.

Yeah,
And no more of his infamous concerts to put a million into watfords coffers..
You really are a joker mate

I was a season ticket holder prior to Elton arriving on the scene - and I can assure you the scene was pretty dismal. If it was not for Elton we would never have ended up in the Premier League - if it was not for the current board we would not be where we are now.

I cant believe thats the most recent picture of Elton the Watford Observer has got.

Elton is a true Watford legend and it's very sad to see him go.
Let's hope the situation improves enough for him to return one day.

ab11uk wrote:
so the saviour of this club on every occasion walks away becasue he wants nothing to do with the board.

and you numptys.(your not fans) have a go at him.

to be honest VOR you can **** off and the rest of u are a disgrace hang ur heads in shame.

why should he save the club with these people in charge.

you invest your money in these jokers.

I will not stoop to your level, but you're seriously testing me.
Carry on this with this lark, we'll all be in danger of scrapping in stands together....
You keyboard warrior you!
As a club we are massively indebted to the guy but isn't this about the 3rd time (different board members)he's walked away when things got tough?
I was getting fed up with people calling for him to come back everytime all was not well anyhow.
Tell me where I've had a go at him, he has hissy's all the time, just ask David. I think it's time for him to let us have our own identity.
An interesting debate nonetheless, so please let us discuss further -- The Moons... maybe pre/post QPR? as i fear you've got issues.
Col...They're likening me to you, are thet for real? I'm still p1ssing myself over that!

This I think tells most people the real state of affairs at WFC......(well maybe apart from that pr*t VoR)....the resignation of a lifelong president should send some MASSIVE concerns......Simpso
n..are you ever going to listen...VoR...you have to be a Luton WUM....you most certainly could never be a WFC fan....you're a disgrace...please go back to the Luton boards!!

would the last one out please close the door

duckfan10 wrote:
I was a season ticket holder prior to Elton arriving on the scene - and I can assure you the scene was pretty dismal. If it was not for Elton we would never have ended up in the Premier League - if it was not for the current board we would not be where we are now.

Completely right duckfan10...
We would not have been in existence today.

T Smith wrote:
This I think tells most people the real state of affairs at WFC......(well maybe apart from that pr*t VoR)....the resignation of a lifelong president should send some MASSIVE concerns......Simpso

n..are you ever going to listen...VoR...you have to be a Luton WUM....you most certainly could never be a WFC fan....you're a disgrace...please go back to the Luton boards!!

Bit of advise.
Read over your post a couple of times before hitting the send button.
You're letting yourself down.
So many issues and not enough tissues!

we should take a vote.

Confirmed. To ALL posters on this site. VoR is a Luton Fan. He has been disrupting this board for too long now. Please do not encourage him.PLEASE VoR. Now is not the time to wind up Watford fans. Your team has gone through the same scenario we are facing now. You of all people should realise thate consequences!

Back to arguements between each other again..

When have the people that really wanting Boothroyd gone BTW?

I think VOR is just trying to be cheeky and mess you around.

Sunbry/Roger - some sensible debate among some, er, slightly less sensible comments!

Elton certainly made mistakes as chairman, but given the length of time he was at the rudder, that's almost inevitable. Name a chairman who stays at a club as long as him and doesn't drop the odd gaffe.

My point is he's a massive fan of longstanding. The position he has resigned from was given to him as an honour, and it involved him doing nothing more than filling the role.

To therefore decide he doesn't even want that association is damning. He obviously knows more than the rest of us about what is really going on (and I think we all know where some of his inside information may have come from).

As I have said previously, it's just a more high profile and therefore louder voice saying what many fans are saying - they can't associate with the club at the moment and cannot reconcile much of what is being said and done.

I was certainly in the camp that felt Boothroyd was out of time - but for the club to truly move forward, we need a total clearout.

I'd really like to think the board are doing what they say they are, and trying as hard as possible and doing all they can to facilitate a sale.

Wonder if Aidy gave SEJ a call after his sacking err sorry mutual agreement?

I am seriously considering for the first time in a long time not to renew my season ticket. I always though Watford fans had no passion - if this was any other club there would be protests - why is this clubs fans so weak

Vicar Rage wrote:
Sunbury - if you have a long memory, you'll remember Vicarage Road (and the status of Watford generally) pre Elton John. If he had not arrived when he did, achieved what he achieved, spent what he spent and cared as he cared, the current mob would never have got the chance to do what they're doing. I don't care when and how he walked away - Elton is massively, massively in credit as far as Watford are concerned.

.......and surely this same logic should apply to the "current mob". If they had not arrived when they did, achieved what they achieved and cared as they cared, it's doubtful that this argument would be going on - not too many posters on here would be around watching a Conference (or below) team.

scotshorn wrote:

Vicar Rage wrote: Sunbury - if you have a long memory, you'll remember Vicarage Road (and the status of Watford generally) pre Elton John. If he had not arrived when he did, achieved what he achieved, spent what he spent and cared as he cared, the current mob would never have got the chance to do what they're doing. I don't care when and how he walked away - Elton is massively, massively in credit as far as Watford are concerned.

.......and surely this same logic should apply to the "current mob". If they had not arrived when they did, achieved what they achieved and cared as they cared, it's doubtful that this argument would be going on - not too many posters on here would be around watching a Conference (or below) team.

Take your blinkers off and you'll see that the current mob are running this club into the ground and destroying the ethos of a generation.

No longer are we a club with family values, any sense of morality. Dare to stand up to this mob and you will be disposed of, haven't you seen enough ruthlessness from this mob?

If only we had a passionate fan base that cared.

Seems to me that whoever disagrees with the idea that G.S has been bad for Watford gets branded... a supporter that doesn't care, lacks passion, or even gets accused of being a L***N supporter, shame on you.

I'm surprised and disappointed of you WFC4ever, coming down to their level!

Doesn't Life president supposed to be for life?
And well said Scotty!

ScotsHorn - you can't compare the current regime to the Elton era.

The current financial plight is of their own making. They openly admit they gambled everything.

I'd say that is an approach that is at best careless - but is probably far worse.

The current mob made one all or nothing decision before (appoint Boothroyd) and it paid off, giving them a massive Premiership pay-day.

Then they sold players for large sums of money, most of whom were at the club before Boothroyd arrived.

The cash must have been slushing around in bundles.

Watford Football Club should have been financially secure for years to come - and even if they wanted to have a quite understandable go at getting back up, they should have been frugal (a word Simpson likes) enough to have put a pot of money to one side to ensure they could still be liquid and competitive if the promotion bid failed.

We've been promised five-year plans, the club operating in the black, new stands and a 7-day-a-week business.

Yet in three short years we've come full circle and now have a relegation threatened squad, little or no money and a ramshackle stadium.

Elton was here longer and had more time to make mistakes, but he left the club in a far better position than he found it.

EJ's decision to step down I think reflects most supporters opinion of the current board and the way they are handling things at this time.

Its a real shame that the board, after doing great things when they first arrived (taking a punt on Boothroyd was a stroke of genius I think despite how things have gone recently)have allowed us to get into this situation but I honestly think they did it with the clubs best interests at heart.

But history shows that if you over extend yourself in search of success and don't get it then you lead yourself into this kind of mess - Leeds anyone? Personally as much as I want the club to be competing at the highest level I think we should have continued down the more prudent route (after all the tortoise won the race in the end didn't he) but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

So yes the board have messed up big style and it is time for them to go, but their recent antics I think stem from them knowing they have screwed up and trying to front it out out of embarrasment.

Anyway, hopefully we'll get a new buyer soon and they'll ask EJ to come back as life president. For me he has to be part of the club as if it wasn't for him and GT our ambitions would probably never have gone beyond getting into, or not being relegated from the 1st division.

Managers, players, board members come and go, clubs prosper then decline - its football. The legacy of this board is a derelict main stand. This is a disgrace. With all the money which has flowed through the club in the last three years, GS's biggest error was not rebuilding something to remember his tenure by. Stands last fifty years and repay themselves over and over. GS invested in Nathan Ellington and Collins John instead. Very bad judgement.

anyone with facebook. please look for watford versus QPR Fans Protest Group. We are growing strong

Elton's decision is because he does'nt want to be associated with Homer and Cashton and what they have done to Watford F.C., the manager had to go but he was hung out to dry by Homer and Cashton ,they should have gone before the manager!

Vicar--reasoned comment from you, and a consistent viewpoint. As you say, for most football Chairman (as for most Prime Ministers )their regime always begins in hope and usually ends in disappointment. For Simpson this has happened a bit more quickly than it did for Elton, and since Simpson achievements cannot compare with Eltons, he will never be remembered with such affection by the fans. However,(and it all depends on when and under what circumstances he leaves of course) I do think that in time he will be remembered more positively than the present furore suggests. (This oftem happens with P.M's too). As for Eltons actions--well, he did not discuss his concerns with anyone at the club before his earlier outburst and as far as I know did not seek clarification of the circumstances surrounding the "parting by mutual consent" before this one. So he is either acting impulsively, or in pursuit of his own agenda. His statements of discontent have been vague so far. If he has specific criticisms of the board why does he not take tham up with the board directly (he has the clout to do so,) or if not willing to do that, why not make them specific and public? At present he is acting by hint and innuendo. Say what you are up to Elton!