Former Manchester United and Cardiff City goalkeeper Tom Heaton to join Watford
8:00am Friday 29th June 2012 in Latest Football News
By Frank Smith, Deputy Group Sports Editor
Tom Heaton celebrates during this year's Carling Cup final. Picture: Action Images
The Hornets are confident Stephen McGinn will commit his future to the club and are also hoping to conclude their first summer signing in the coming days, the Watford Observer understands.
Watford have been competing with Ipswich Town and Bristol City for the services of Cardiff City goalkeeper Tom Heaton and we understand the Golden Boys have won the race for his signature.
Heaton started his career at Wrexham but moved to Manchester United as a trainee.
The 26-year-old spent five years at Old Trafford as a professional but did not make a competitive appearance for the Red Devils; spending most of his time out on loan, with spells at Swindon Town, Belgian side Royal Antwerp, Cardiff, Queens Park Rangers, Rochdale and Wycombe Wanderers.
Heaton returned to Cardiff to sign a permanent deal in June 2010 and was often first choice goalkeeper during his first season at the club.
However, the Bluebirds were blessed to have two very good goalkeepers and when Malky Mackay arrived last summer, he was keen to have a settled number one and David Marshall just edged ahead of Heaton during pre-season.
Heaton did play in the cup competitions though and was instrumental in Cardiff reaching the Carling Cup final, which they lost to Liverpool on penalties.
We understand Cardiff offered Heaton a new contract but he expressed his desire to leave in search of first team football.
There was speculation Watford midfielder McGinn was heading in the opposite direction and joining Cardiff when his contract expires on Saturday.
However, we understand City are not interested in the midfielder and we expect the 23-year-old to sign a new deal with the Hornets.
Watford’s players were at the club’s training ground for the first three days of this week for testing, ahead of pre-season which begins on July 9, and we understand McGinn joined the squad at London Colney.
McGinn has not played a competitive match for more than 16 months following a cruciate knee ligament injury but returned to ‘full fitness’ towards the end of last season, playing in several Reserve team matches.
Comments(32)
COGGDAVE1
says...
8:33am Fri 29 Jun 12
How can any transfers be negotiated in the middle of owner change negotiations ??
The club has new owners, or it doesn't, and the lack of info from W/O must be
pre-arranged.
All we get are fillers, none news articles...which are meaningless.
WHATS GOING ON ??????
akureyri
says...
8:47am Fri 29 Jun 12
radio_rocking
says...
8:47am Fri 29 Jun 12
cbuk1983
says...
8:54am Fri 29 Jun 12
IntelligentHornet
says...
8:55am Fri 29 Jun 12
gloryhornet4
says...
8:58am Fri 29 Jun 12
Losing out on TK to a team that 2 years ago had no ground is a choker.
radio_rocking
says...
8:59am Fri 29 Jun 12
Heaton is no better than Scott
Bush Hornet
says...
9:14am Fri 29 Jun 12
cbuk1983 wrote:Exactly
Got some serious drama queens on here. "What's happening? What's going on?". What the hell do fans expect? A running commentary on negotiations? It's an extremely complex process, not like making a purchase from Argos... There are all kind of things to mull over and investigate and there's an awful lot of money involved. Takeovers take weeks / months... Not days — Grow up.
CroxleyTandoori
says...
9:15am Fri 29 Jun 12
WFC4ever
says...
9:16am Fri 29 Jun 12
Noodlehornet
says...
9:22am Fri 29 Jun 12
CroxleyTandoori wrote:I rate him too and, if the last game of last season was to go by, Loach needs decent competition. There's nothing to say we can't have both keepers at the club, even though the last time we had two of a similar standard was probably back in the days of Sherwood and Coton.
I've always rated Heaton. A lot of Cardiff City fans prefer him to Marshall.
garston tony
says...
9:22am Fri 29 Jun 12
cbuk1983 wrote:There was I thinking all the Pozzo's had to do was hand LB their credit card and the club was theirs.
Got some serious drama queens on here. "What's happening? What's going on?". What the hell do fans expect? A running commentary on negotiations? It's an extremely complex process, not like making a purchase from Argos... There are all kind of things to mull over and investigate and there's an awful lot of money involved. Takeovers take weeks / months... Not days — Grow up.
Agree, it would be great to have positive updates on a regular basis but these things do take time and when they say the purchase/sale is imminent this could still mean quite a few days not a few hours.
As to Heaton, not really seen him play bar the cup final but does look like Loach will either be sold or is now considered only a second choice keeper. Shame, he did/does have potential and it would be great if he could add his name to the great keepers that have been at WFC over the years.
Welcome to Heaton anyway!
radio_rocking
says...
9:27am Fri 29 Jun 12
Noodlehornet wrote:I cannot see Loach sitting on the bench next season.
CroxleyTandoori wrote: I've always rated Heaton. A lot of Cardiff City fans prefer him to Marshall.I rate him too and, if the last game of last season was to go by, Loach needs decent competition. There's nothing to say we can't have both keepers at the club, even though the last time we had two of a similar standard was probably back in the days of Sherwood and Coton.
He will be off.
Heaton is no better
Mickey Quinn, not so thin
says...
9:41am Fri 29 Jun 12
Bush Hornet wrote:Of course its complex but they should understand they have a whole fan base waiting for news. No need for running commentary but some indication along the lines of "hoping to conclude in the next 2 weeks" or "next 48 hrs" of "by the end of July" would at least set some sort of expectation and stop fans clicking the refresh button every 10 mins !!
cbuk1983 wrote:Exactly
Got some serious drama queens on here. "What's happening? What's going on?". What the hell do fans expect? A running commentary on negotiations? It's an extremely complex process, not like making a purchase from Argos... There are all kind of things to mull over and investigate and there's an awful lot of money involved. Takeovers take weeks / months... Not days — Grow up.
There is a real urgency here with the league starting in 7 weeks and available players getting snapped up.
My fear is the expectation was "imminent" earlier in the week (though not officially announced as such) but they have hit a problem they can't work round and the whole thing may fall away. Its bizarre that we are planning to sign a player in these circumstances who one of the regimes may not want. Presume SD wanted him ? If so is this an indication that SD will be part of the new structure or a sign that the deal is off ??
Dr,Oftaw
says...
10:01am Fri 29 Jun 12
Mickey Quinn, not so thin wrote:i think this signing is exactly the type they would like. a keeper in for under 500k or maybe free if out of contract , and a keeper going out for 1.5m+
Bush Hornet wrote:Of course its complex but they should understand they have a whole fan base waiting for news. No need for running commentary but some indication along the lines of "hoping to conclude in the next 2 weeks" or "next 48 hrs" of "by the end of July" would at least set some sort of expectation and stop fans clicking the refresh button every 10 mins !! There is a real urgency here with the league starting in 7 weeks and available players getting snapped up. My fear is the expectation was "imminent" earlier in the week (though not officially announced as such) but they have hit a problem they can't work round and the whole thing may fall away. Its bizarre that we are planning to sign a player in these circumstances who one of the regimes may not want. Presume SD wanted him ? If so is this an indication that SD will be part of the new structure or a sign that the deal is off ??cbuk1983 wrote: Got some serious drama queens on here. "What's happening? What's going on?". What the hell do fans expect? A running commentary on negotiations? It's an extremely complex process, not like making a purchase from Argos... There are all kind of things to mull over and investigate and there's an awful lot of money involved. Takeovers take weeks / months... Not days — Grow up.Exactly
mooneysmagic
says...
10:04am Fri 29 Jun 12
radio_rocking wrote:I agree he is no bette r than Loach but we have got Heaton for nothing. Hopefully we will get around £200,000 for Loach from Ipswich so it makes business sense.
Loach will not be loaned out he is either going Ipswich or Nottingham Forest.
Heaton is no better than Scott
tonupchris
says...
10:26am Fri 29 Jun 12
Welcome Tom and good luck to you.
buckler
says...
10:36am Fri 29 Jun 12
radio_rocking wrote:Good signing, any keeper in the division will be better than loach! Sorry as one of his mates, I guess you better tell him is Watford days are over!
Loach will not be loaned out he is either going Ipswich or Nottingham Forest. Heaton is no better than Scott
radio_rocking
says...
10:59am Fri 29 Jun 12
We have to pay Lincoln a % of any transfer don't we?
Harrydownunder
says...
11:00am Fri 29 Jun 12
tonupchris wrote:Great to see one positive comment!!
Typical reactions to this signing. He's been here 5 seconds and already he's no good or not better than we've despite most people having no idea who he is or seen him play. This kind of reaction also greeted Nosworthy and look what happened there.
Welcome Tom and good luck to you.
AngelHornet
says...
11:08am Fri 29 Jun 12
mooneysmagic wrote:I would hope the club receive more than £200,000. Nearer £400,000 with add ons
radio_rocking wrote:I agree he is no bette r than Loach but we have got Heaton for nothing. Hopefully we will get around £200,000 for Loach from Ipswich so it makes business sense.
Loach will not be loaned out he is either going Ipswich or Nottingham Forest.
Heaton is no better than Scott
Wrighty_Hornet
says...
12:18pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Edwardz22
says...
12:43pm Fri 29 Jun 12
Chris the Vic
says...
1:01pm Fri 29 Jun 12
As for McGinn reduce his salary by 20% if he wants to resign now he is not wanted in Wales. He will then know the price of loyalty.
JohnnyHornet
says...
2:22pm Fri 29 Jun 12
AngelHornet wrote:Are the add ons a pair of gloves that are sticky......
mooneysmagic wrote:I would hope the club receive more than £200,000. Nearer £400,000 with add ons
radio_rocking wrote:I agree he is no bette r than Loach but we have got Heaton for nothing. Hopefully we will get around £200,000 for Loach from Ipswich so it makes business sense.
Loach will not be loaned out he is either going Ipswich or Nottingham Forest.
Heaton is no better than Scott
corbindallas
says...
4:13pm Fri 29 Jun 12
SAHornet
says...
5:50pm Fri 29 Jun 12
tonupchris wrote:Good posting Chris. I doubt that those on here that say Tom is no better than SL have even seen him more than once. Bloody hell, we sign a decent keeper and people on here moan like a bunch of sour-faced old pensioners. Welcome to WFC Tom Heaton and hope you enjoy your time here.
Typical reactions to this signing. He's been here 5 seconds and already he's no good or not better than we've despite most people having no idea who he is or seen him play. This kind of reaction also greeted Nosworthy and look what happened there.
Welcome Tom and good luck to you.
watford1881
says...
4:54pm Sat 30 Jun 12
StuWFC
says...
6:05pm Sat 30 Jun 12
D.unstable
says...
11:36am Sun 1 Jul 12
I do not know to much about his general performance but made a cracking save from Gerrard in the CC final and looks quite imposing at 6'3
Would like to see Loach stay and them both challenge for the shirt.
corbindallas
says...
8:21am Mon 2 Jul 12
radio_rocking says...
8:06am Fri 29 Jun 12