King rejects Premiership to seal Hornets move

5:42pm Friday 23rd December 2005

WATFORD have given the biggest statement yet of their intention to build for the long-term by securing two vital signings this week.

Following the announcement that Adrian Boothroyd has committed his future to the Hornets until 2010, the Watford Observer can exclusively reveal the club successfully fended off interest from Premiership clubs to secure the Championship's leading scorer Marlon King on a three-and-a-half year deal after he agreed personal terms. The 12-goal striker will make his loan move from Nottingham Forest permanent when the transfer window repoens in January for a pre-arranged £500,000 fee.

Boothroyd, who along with chairman Graham Simpson was a guest at Sir Elton John's wedding' party on Wednesday night, has reignited King's career since he moved to Vicarage Road in the summer and was delighted the deal has been secured.

"I think Marlon's a big statement about the club's intentions," said the manager. "I think the perception of Watford may well start to change even more now, that we're not a little club in the Championship that does well to survive every year and that we want to have real go.

"I think it's a credit to Marlon at this stage in his life. He has got a young family, been around quite a bit and it's a time for stability in his life and a time for growth and he recognises the club is going places. I think he's being very ambitious doing what he's doing because he knows where we're going."

For the full story, which includes interviews with King and Watford chief executive Mark Ashton, don't miss this week's edition of the Watford Observer.