Scott Duxbury: 'Sean Dyche did remarkably but Watford's ambition changed overnight'
10:40am Thursday 12th July 2012 in Latest Football News
By Frank Smith, Deputy Group Sports Editor
Scott Duxbury. Picture: Holly Cant
Watford's new chief executive claims Sean Dyche did a remarkable job considering the financial constraints at the club but said the Hornets’ ambition changed overnight following the takeover.
Scott Duxbury became Watford’s CEO following the Pozzos’ buyout and one of his first jobs was to tell Dyche he would be leaving the club.
But when Duxbury spoke to the Watford Observer on Tuesday night, he stressed: “It was clear Sean and his staff did a remarkable job and I don’t think people understand the financial problems that the club actually have, although now is not the time to go into it. But it is quite remarkable, given that backdrop, what they achieved under serious constraints.
“But with the Pozzos’ wealth and infrastructure, the club’s ambition changed overnight. What they want to achieve on the pitch and off the pitch, in terms of changing the infrastructure in search of success, changed overnight.
“So their idea once they had the club, in terms of what they wanted and who they wanted to achieve that ambition, changed.
“It is no disrespect towards Sean and it is more about the fact the Pozzos don’t have any knowledge of Sean. They have nothing but respect for his record but they have a clear idea about who they want to achieve their ambition.”
Zola had been linked with the Watford position for several weeks and Giampaolo Pozzo was quoted as saying Zola would be the new manager five days before Dyche was sacked.
The Pozzos’ interest in Watford stretches back to February but Duxbury claimed they were not certain Zola would be taking over until after the takeover was complete.
“It is a really difficult question to answer because we didn’t know we had the club until the day of completion,” Duxbury replied when asked how long he had known Dyche would be replaced.
“So it was soon after completion that their idea, and who they wanted, came to fruition. They went to great lengths to stress that it is no disrespect at all to Sean’s record and I am sure he will go on to be an incredible success somewhere else.”
Giampaolo Pozzo has been in charge of Udinese since 1986 and the Italian club tried to sign Zola as a player when he was at Napoli in the 1990s.
The Pozzos have stated their goal is to reach the Premier League and Duxbury believe the fact Zola is their own appointment, means they will be more patient with him should results not go their way initially.
Duxbury said: “They are not saying that their idea is better or worse but it is their idea and they believe strongly that their squad and management team can achieve their ambition.
“I think what the Pozzos said which really sums it up is that they back Gianfranco and they know it is a long term project. If he loses three or four games then they won’t panic because they really believe in what he is doing, they will invest in him.
“If they had a manager that they didn’t believe in or didn’t know then they would start questioning him so it was important that they made their own decision.
“They understood it would be unpopular with the supporters because it was a tremendous season under Sean but they have to be able to put their own people in place to achieve their ambition.
“It is just football and it is just life and I do respect their decision to replace Sean.”
Comments(29)
Boxhorn
says...
11:29am Thu 12 Jul 12
No more SD did a great job, SD gets the sack blah blah.
Come on Wobbie,
you have reported this one to death now!!
BicesterLee
says...
11:45am Thu 12 Jul 12
In my many years in business I've followed what was said to me as a young man that change is the only constant, so I've embraced that in my work and personal life, always relishing change and looking for challenges. With that in mind I'm excited about the new season, not least to return to Vicarage Road for Lloyd's testimonial and see a proper football pitch for the first time in many seasons. After that I'll get fully behind GZ and the team regardless of results, as it's yet another new chapter in the history of Watford, so I'll stay positive and take it one match at a time.
At the very least we still have our beloved club in business for another season and that's been the main target for a few years, followed by survival next as the minimum, but always hoping for another 2005/2006 season and promotion.
Loyal Supporter
says...
11:54am Thu 12 Jul 12
Holly68
says...
11:56am Thu 12 Jul 12
Holly68
says...
11:59am Thu 12 Jul 12
His departure comes after the 47-year-old met with Forest's new owners the Al-Hasawi family, who took over ownership of the club on Tuesday.
A statement said the owners, who have called a news conference on Saturday, have decided to make a new appointment "to deliver their long-term vision".
cliff46
says...
12:00pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Given all the changes in personnel and style we might well be in the bottom half up to
Xmas in which case they are obviously going to be supportive of their own man.
Their PR in the last few days comes across as professional and I have found that to be encouraging.
So I am firmly back in a clapper camp but don't know whether I continue to qualify as an original clapper or if I am one of Lutondown's new clappers?
tonyevans22
says...
12:02pm Thu 12 Jul 12
bobolongo
says...
12:20pm Thu 12 Jul 12
holtonian
says...
12:27pm Thu 12 Jul 12
JonBoy
says...
1:10pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Now to complete things it would be good to see Judas1 and Judas2 fail miserably next season and for SD to get a job with a good club.
Forza Watford! Forza Gialloneri!
ps Udinese away kit is gold and black :)
Frankie Frazer
says...
1:22pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Boxhorn wrote:Personally Happy to see this article, plenty of new quotes to mull over! Yes the Wobby don't always get it right, but come on let's not bash them for the sake of it !!
That's it!!
No more SD did a great job, SD gets the sack blah blah.
Come on Wobbie,
you have reported this one to death now!!
BicesterLee
says...
1:24pm Thu 12 Jul 12
bobolongo wrote:Pop to Bicester Village on a weekday and you'll stand a good chance of bumping into him. my daughter who is a season ticket holder with me has seen him many times when she's been working down there, or just shopping and Sean always takes time to talk to her, as well as anyone else who knows him I assume, a thoroughly nice guy and very approachable.
Anyone out there knows of a way to reach SD? Would like to write to him to thank him for what he did for our club. Nothing against Zola but its the least he deserves from us after the way he has been treated
lutondown
says...
1:35pm Thu 12 Jul 12
cliff46 wrote:Cliff, welcome to the new breed of clapper!
I was sorry we lost Sean Dyche but I fully understand that it is the Pozzo's money and therefore their choice.
Given all the changes in personnel and style we might well be in the bottom half up to
Xmas in which case they are obviously going to be supportive of their own man.
Their PR in the last few days comes across as professional and I have found that to be encouraging.
So I am firmly back in a clapper camp but don't know whether I continue to qualify as an original clapper or if I am one of Lutondown's new clappers?
Don't matter what camp you were in before, it's the exciting future that is all that matters now. Always respected your posts anyway, don't have to agree on everything do we?
Two things. As told by a few on here during the last tenure, we were heading for trouble. Weve been saved, no doubt about that. That's now tucked in and put firmly to bed.
The other, Dyche for Forest? I doubt it very much, think they're looking big name.
lutondown
says...
1:41pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Mike too was a nice guy, I don't care for nice, I care for success.
jasonwatford
says...
1:44pm Thu 12 Jul 12
buckler
says...
1:58pm Thu 12 Jul 12
tonyevans22 wrote:Why not offer him a Barman job in the pub or meet and greet in the legends! Get real We have to move forward and so will Dyche!
There was no need to sack Dyche,they could have offered him a position with the academy,reserves and youth then he would of had an option to say yes or no.To oust him out of the club is IMO very harsh.Also it would have benefited Zola that he could turn to Sean about the players and get some insight rather than coming in blind with a month to go before the season starts.Sean is a very well respected man,and I am sure he will come back to management in the future.
peter10531089
says...
2:05pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Also well done to the Watford Observer for coming out with a good article that deals with questions and provides with info we didnt have - I have been quite critical of the WO but I can also say well done - "well done"
peter10531089
says...
2:09pm Thu 12 Jul 12
buckler wrote:I get the feeling from the article and from the lengths that Duxberry and Zola have gone to say what respect they have for Sean that it would have been done as nicely as these things can be - lets be honest Sean knew this was coming.
tonyevans22 wrote: There was no need to sack Dyche,they could have offered him a position with the academy,reserves and youth then he would of had an option to say yes or no.To oust him out of the club is IMO very harsh.Also it would have benefited Zola that he could turn to Sean about the players and get some insight rather than coming in blind with a month to go before the season starts.Sean is a very well respected man,and I am sure he will come back to management in the future.Why not offer him a Barman job in the pub or meet and greet in the legends! Get real We have to move forward and so will Dyche!
Couldnt have been barman in the Red & Yellow Lion and Bonkers Baz still owns it
akureyri
says...
2:09pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Clappers - do not worry how the club is run they will support anything willingly.
New clappers - those who did not like things as they were but do now.
Neo clappers - as above but for Italian ownership.
Old clappers - those who did like things as they were but do not now.
Crypto clappers - those who do it secretly.
Glory clappers - those who arrive late.
Frankie Frazer
says...
2:40pm Thu 12 Jul 12
akureyri wrote:Very funny !
Let me get this straight.
Clappers - do not worry how the club is run they will support anything willingly.
New clappers - those who did not like things as they were but do now.
Neo clappers - as above but for Italian ownership.
Old clappers - those who did like things as they were but do not now.
Crypto clappers - those who do it secretly.
Glory clappers - those who arrive late.
lutondown
says...
3:04pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Frankie Frazer wrote:Very unfunny, despite best efforts
akureyri wrote:Very funny !
Let me get this straight.
Clappers - do not worry how the club is run they will support anything willingly.
New clappers - those who did not like things as they were but do now.
Neo clappers - as above but for Italian ownership.
Old clappers - those who did like things as they were but do not now.
Crypto clappers - those who do it secretly.
Glory clappers - those who arrive late.
buckler
says...
3:36pm Thu 12 Jul 12
akureyri wrote:CLAP OFF!
Let me get this straight.
Clappers - do not worry how the club is run they will support anything willingly.
New clappers - those who did not like things as they were but do now.
Neo clappers - as above but for Italian ownership.
Old clappers - those who did like things as they were but do not now.
Crypto clappers - those who do it secretly.
Glory clappers - those who arrive late.
Hornet Cornet
says...
3:37pm Thu 12 Jul 12
lutondown
says...
4:08pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Hornet Cornet wrote:Not only do you add the bizarre, you add the exotically bizzarre!
About as amusing as finding a fruitbat in bed with you. And not a small fruit bat, nope, one of those massive eagle-type fruit bats you get in the Maldives.
Nice one cornet make mine a 99
BicesterLee
says...
4:26pm Thu 12 Jul 12
jasonwatford wrote:He'd be the only inhabitant if he did, Bicester Village is the UK's biggest and most visited Designer Retail Outlet, frequented by many Premiership footballers, TV and Film personalities, along with lots of other very wealthy people, plus coachloads of Japanese and Chinese tourists at weekends!
WHAT-SD LIVES IN BICESTER VILLAGE !!!! JUDAS....
Chris the Vic
says...
4:58pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Now WO ...Actions speak louder than words so next article needs to tell us about our new keeper is it Cudicinni or Loachio or Buffoon? might even find Joe Hart acceptable.
lutondown
says...
5:02pm Thu 12 Jul 12
Chris the Vic wrote:I can't fill my boots enough, we gave lots of airspace to negative times WTF would we not want to talk about the delights coming our way,
Bring it on ands lets see how we do and how the new managers cope. I really think we have had enough of words about new methods, new challenges etc...Lets see how it all works out.
Now WO ...Actions speak louder than words so next article needs to tell us about our new keeper is it Cudicinni or Loachio or Buffoon? might even find Joe Hart acceptable.
Hope the WO is full of it tomorrow
WFC4ever
says...
8:22pm Thu 12 Jul 12
At least Zola can bring in players and decide which of the current squad are good enough for him.
petsoundsnick says...
11:12am Thu 12 Jul 12
Now lets move on. With the football we will be playing, we are the Brazil of the Championship.....(an
d not just due to the colour of our shirts)...