Watford FC Chairman & CEO Scott Duxbury shares his thoughts ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Burnley...
We are very proud of this football club. Its values, its sense of belonging, and its wish to inspire those in the local community.
These are parts of our football club’s daily life too seldom spoken about. Too often, if the football isn’t successful, then the whole club is written off as being on the wrong path.
For ourselves, that would do a huge disservice to a great body of staff who are the very heartbeat of what Watford Football Club is all about; the path it was set on by the pioneering family initiatives driven by Elton John and Graham Taylor.
Off the pitch, the club is thriving and will continue to thrive. The close relationships with the local community in all its forms and the investment in club infrastructure will continue with purpose and enthusiasm.
On the pitch, this season has been unacceptably poor – especially in front of yourselves, our own supporters, who deserve much, much better than what you’ve had to endure.
We don’t want to hide behind anything. It’s why we’ve begun frank and open discussions with supporters and will continue to meet once the season is finished and beyond.
We want everyone to understand we accept that what’s happened on the field of play, particularly at home, is unacceptable.
To have great resources and for them not to bear fruit is bitterly disappointing. Improvements and developments must and will be made.
We are all focused on putting this right. Yet now, today, it’s not about a bid to retain status, or where we will finish in the league at the end of the season, it’s far more important than that. It's about respecting our supporters and our club.
Everyone has been aware of that this week. It’s been discussed, it’s been accepted. Our players and coaching staff have gone into the team hotel earlier than scheduled to take away all other distractions and ensure the sole focus hones in on delivering a performance that our supporters can be proud of this afternoon.
You, our supporters, deserve more. You deserve better. We cannot suggest for one moment you haven’t tried to play your part. The noise we’ve heard at Vicarage Road in recent times has been relentless.
The only thing at this time that remains in our gift is to work and to work harder. To pretend the league situation is anything other than it is would be futile – the stark reality of the Premier League table bears witness to that.
I promise you everyone is doing everything in their power to rectify this now and for the rest of the season.
My continued very best wishes, on behalf of everyone here at Watford Football Club, to you and your families.
Scott Duxbury
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