UpNorth
Jimmy Russo has reacted angrily to suggestions that Watford star Tommy Smith is on the verge of being sold to Reading, calling the Royals’ offer for the Hornets talisman “derisory” and “insulting” and insisting there is no deal currently in place for the player to link up again with Brendan Rodgers.
The Watford chairman contacted the Watford Observer in response to a story we reported from the Reading Chronicle earlier this evening. This claimed Smith was poised to turn down a move to Premiership newcomers Wolves in favour of a switch to the Madejski Stadium for around £800,000 and that the deal could be completed within the next week.
But Russo has told us: “As far as I am concerned there is no deal whatsoever with Reading. I can 100 per cent guarantee that.
“They have made a derisory offer which I am not interested in,” said the chairman, who also branded Reading’s valuation of the 17-goal striker “insulting” and added that he had “no desire” to sell Watford’s leading asset.
How embarrasing for the Chairman of a respected football club to act out a little tantrum like that by directly contacting a local rag.
If I was a Watford fan I'd worry about how they conduct their business, I really would. And tonight, revelling in telling everybody about his new £1.8 million bid???
I strongly suspect that all this has put Reading off doing business with Watford. They should take a more mature stance on their business dealings rather than playing out their little dramas through the media.
