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Ellington to join Rams on a free
9:26am Friday 30th May 2008
Comments (78)Nathan Ellington, Watford's record £3.25m signing, will be allowed to join Derby County on a free transfer next summer.
Ellington signed for the Rams yesterday on a season-long loan deal, ending his ignominious seven-month spell at Vicarage Road. The Hornets have received a "substational" loan fee as part of the deal but, because the player still has three years of his contract outstanding, Ellington will be allowed to walk away for nothing this time next year.
Watford paid a club record £3.25m for the 26-year-old in August - a fee West Brom boss Tony Mowbray described as "excellent fee for his services" - and saw Ellington's 21 starts yield only four goals.
Ellington has scored at a rate of nearly one in two throughout his career and is hoping a reunion with Paul Jewell, who managed the Duke at Wigan, will herald a return to his best form.
"I'm really excited about his move and particularly looking forward to linking up again with Paul Jewell," said Ellington. "It's no secret that the most successful period of my career was spent playing for him at Wigan Athletic. He got the best out of me then and when I came to see him the other week he told me he intended to get the best out me again and get me scoring goals again.
"I was really impressed with the ambition of both the manager and the Chairman and excited about their plans for this coming season and beyond. I know they are looking to rebuild the team here and I'm looking forward to being part of that and playing my part in bringing success here."
Jewell will be hoping to succeed where Aidy Boothroyd failed and Watford fans will be intrigued to see where Ellington features in next season's Championship goalscoring charts. He is likely to receive a hostile reception when he returns to Vicarage Road with the Rams.
Boothroyd described Ellington as the "best all-round player at the club" but doubts quickly surfaced from inside the camp over the mental and physical state of the player.
The manager seemed reluctant to call upon his services, famously leaving his record signing on the bench as a toothless Watford side crashed to a 1-0 defeat at Preston in January.
Ellington became frustrated by his lack of opportunities but was given his head when Marlon King was sold and responded with three goals in five goals.
He, however, suffered more than most as Watford's style of play became increasingly direct and was often made the scapegoat for some of the more wretched displays, finding himself substituted in 14 out of the 21 matches he started including the 3-0 debacle at Hull in March. He was known to be furious at being replaced against Norwich ealier that month.
When Boothroyd finally bowed to mounting pressure from inside the changing room and opted to change the style of play, fans started to see the best of Ellington, particularly in the second leg of the play-off semi-final.
However, he was substituted again that day and Boothroyd, much to his frustration, has decided to cut his losses on the club's second highest paid player.
Ellington will team up with Jordan Stewart at Pride Park. The left back turned down two separate offers of a new contract and was released by Boothroyd before the play-off semi-final. Stewart made 92 league appearances for the Hornets after signing from Leicester in 2005 for £150,000.
"This is a terrific opportunity for me and I jumped at the chance to join Derby when I knew they were interested," he said. "I believe there was an interest in January but that didn't materialise, but I'm committed to joining now and can't wait to get stuck in when pre-season starts in June.
"I met with Paul Jewell and was instantly struck by his ambitions for this club and the vision he has to take it forward. Likewise the Chairman, Adam Pearson, who told me about the plans for strengthening the squad and making sure we are challenging at the right end of the table come May."
Your Say YourWatford
Upper-Rous, Watford says...
9:55am Fri 30 May 08
JEWELL: Aidy my main man.
AIDY: Oh, hello, Mr Jewell. Sir. <COUGHS NERVOUSLY> I wasnt expecting...
JEWELL: Now, about Nathan Ellington...
AIDY: Yes. <TAKES OUT PIECE OF PAPER AND READS IT> Mr Simpson has asked if could have £2m up front, then the other £500k...
JEWELL: Ah, yeah. Thats what I wanted to talk about.
AIDY: What? You want to pay it ALL up front?
JEWELL: Er...no. We dont want to pay any of it. Just his wages.
AIDY: What? But the paper talk...the little chats weve had...you said...
JEWELL: Things have changed now, Aidy. The credit crunch. Petrol prices. Car tax. The, erm ...Chinese earthquake.
AIDY: But Mr Jewell...
JEWELL: Mrs Jewell says smoothies are more than £2 now in Sainsburys. Her average basket is rocketing. Im afraid its changed the equation, little fella.
AIDY: But... whats FOOD got to do with it?
JEWELL: Nathans a big lad. Needs a lot of feeding. You see what Im saying?
AIDY: But his religion...he only eats 11 months of the year.
JEWELL: Exactly, were only getting 11/12ths of a player. <PAUSES> Come on, Nathans unsettled, poor lad. And we dont want that do we?
AIDY: I dont know. I think Id better speak to Mr Simpson.
JEWELL: <WORRIEDLY> No, dont do that. <SMILING> We can sort this out between ourselves, cant we...Aidy?
AIDY: But I need to tell Mr Simpson we got a fee.
JEWELL: <SIGHS> Okay.
AIDY: How much?
JEWELL: Erm, itll be...substantial. Yeah, a...substantial loan fee. <LOOKS THROUGH WALLET FOR NOTES FINDS NONE, SO EMPTIES OUT COINS> Are 20p pieces okay?
AIDY: <DISAPPOINTEDLY> Oh, er...yes, thanks, Mr Jewell. Sir.
JEWELL: One thing before you go. <PAUSES> Is that Jordan Stewart any good?
AIDY: <PAUSES, THEN GRINS CUNNINGLY> Oh yes!
Simon, London says...
9:57am Fri 30 May 08
Bit disappointing that he's gone, given the much heralded change in style but he's obviously on decent money and he's one of the more saleable assets so it probably makes sense for him to move on.
JohnBoy, Watford says...
10:20am Fri 30 May 08
G, Croxley Green says...
10:22am Fri 30 May 08
Obviously if it is a 'loan deal' he will not be eligible to play against us next season, or were we stupid enough to not put that clause in the contract as you can guarantee he will score and have a blinder against us!
SIMMO, BUCKS says...
10:43am Fri 30 May 08
FANS FORUM NOW MR CHAIRMAN
Premiership monies £30m
Young fee £9m
Bouazza £4m
King £3M
Forrester £1m
NEED to raise £6m ABSOLUTLEY DISGUSTING
TIME FOR THIS REGIME RUNNING THE CLUB TO BE ACCOUNTABLE !
We are a laughing stock in the football world Derby must be laughing there socks off
How much more off this are we just going to sit and take ?
Simon, London says...
10:48am Fri 30 May 08
They've decided that if he does well and they get promoted then they'll want to sign him. If he doesn't do well or they don't get promoted then they want the option to be able to cut their losses and not get saddled with him wages for 2 years.
This could equally be acheived by signing him on a one year contract but there's no way Ellington would be willing to sign on a 1 year deal when he's got 3 in the bag at Watford as it would leave him with no job security.
The "loan fee" is his transfer fee I think.
If that is what's happened then it's not ideal but makes sense.
Winston, watford says...
11:03am Fri 30 May 08
Winston, watford says...
11:06am Fri 30 May 08
Winston wrote:oh yea by the way share holders you have been shafted!
sorry this is a joke - if he was sold then you have the capital to by another player - with a loan deal is that paid in instalments?
ab11uk, watford says...
11:08am Fri 30 May 08
SIMMO is correct
30 million
9 million
4 million
3 million
money out 3.25 million ellington
750k Sadler
250k Eustace
600k Bromby
total in 46 million
Total out 4.8 million
Wages outgoing will be offset by gate money and sponsership
the only thing that could have cost additional would be the east stand but as Graham "my fake tan is were your money has gone" Simpson would say that may happen/may not???
at least 30 million has disappeared from this club. What is going on and why are the majority of fans putting up with it. Imagine Sunderland saying well you know all that money we had. well thats gone somewhere and now we have to sell anyone for anything!
JohnBoy, Watford says...
11:11am Fri 30 May 08
mark, dunstable says...
11:14am Fri 30 May 08
Upper-Rous, i enjoyed your phone call reconstruction!
Does anyone know of anyone we're getting in or rumoured with?
JimBob, Watford says...
11:36am Fri 30 May 08
As for the simple sums above, give it a bloody rest. £17.6m was spent on wages alone in the Premiership season. Is that 'no investment' in the team by your books? Grow up!
ebhorn, Eastbourne says...
11:42am Fri 30 May 08
ab11uk, watford says...
11:49am Fri 30 May 08
Jimbob shall we pluck another amount for a loan fee out the air?
17.6 million on wages is very debatable unless the whole playing staff and coaching staff were all on exactly 6k a week that simply does not add up. you can add on the directors still works out at about 4k a week for everyone and we all know we aint paying scott loach 4k a week even with a board as useless as these
Hexham Hornet, Hexham says...
11:55am Fri 30 May 08
I hope we have recouped a lot of the 3.2 million we paid, especially as Ellington still has 3 years to run on his contract. It can be argued that we are saving a substantial lot on not having to pay his wages, but that is not the same as receiving a fee and I hope it is not what the club mean by this. I assume that while he is on loan Derby will also be fully responsible for all of his wages.
What happens if at the end of the season Ellington has scored 20 goals for Derby and they lose out in the play-offs, but Watford get promoted? Where do we all stand? Could we opt to keep him, can Derby pull out of the deal as they may then struggle with his wages? Would he prefer to stay with us, if we are then in the Premier League and Derby are only going to be in the Championship? I know there are a lot of ifs and buts there, but surely this has been considered by all parties. Are we obliged to stick with the Derby deal if somebody comes in and offers a large transfer fee in January, having seen him do well at Derby? Similarly, if he gets seriously injured then are we obliged to have him back on our books?
We would like to be given more information.
Anyway, good luck to him and Jordan Stewart!
The enlightened one, Garston says...
12:00pm Fri 30 May 08
Berks Horn, London says...
12:13pm Fri 30 May 08
The enlightened one, Garston says...
12:13pm Fri 30 May 08
VoR, watford says...
12:18pm Fri 30 May 08
Very forward thinking in my eyes.
Watford3, Watford says...
12:27pm Fri 30 May 08
Stewart, Home says...
12:32pm Fri 30 May 08
ab11uk wrote:17.6 million is correct, it was in the deloite report on premiership wages. That would be for those of us who are actually interested / clued up on football.
its reported on the watfordfc website. Jimbob shall we pluck another amount for a loan fee out the air? 17.6 million on wages is very debatable unless the whole playing staff and coaching staff were all on exactly 6k a week that simply does not add up. you can add on the directors still works out at about 4k a week for everyone and we all know we aint paying scott loach 4k a week even with a board as useless as these
Kurse, Chorleywood says...
12:35pm Fri 30 May 08
Hexham Hornet, Hexham says...
12:35pm Fri 30 May 08
VoR wrote:VoR, do you know more about the deal than has been published? In what way is it great business? Yes we have moved him on and, I presume, will not be paying him any wages. Apart from that we know nothing. Is this bringing some money in for Aidy to use on transfers, or has it just reduced our wage bill substantially? If you know, then please share the secret with us.
Great bit of business, to which I applaud both Aidy and the board. Very forward thinking in my eyes.
Watford3, Watford says...
12:39pm Fri 30 May 08
chrissyboy, Milton Keynes says...
12:46pm Fri 30 May 08
I'm pretty sure if it had been a decent figure they'd be singing from the rooftops about what a good piece of business they have done. I strongly expect it is just a token financial gesture from Derby.
Does this go down in WFC history as the worst signing and worst piece of business of all time?!!
Scouse / Hornet, Newtown / Powys says...
12:49pm Fri 30 May 08
The enlightened one, Garston says...
12:52pm Fri 30 May 08
SIMMO, BUCKS says...
1:01pm Fri 30 May 08
Watford3 wrote:WATFORD3 you are not alone my friend ,as a supporter/season ticket holder of two many years to mention and a regular away traveller ,i travel with many many good friends and we all feel the same ,so many i know do not bother to even post anything anymore and the "older" generation i.e late 50's/60's ,who don't have computers, that i know are spitting feathers at the way this club is run ,HOW some on here can find good things to say is beyond me BUT they are now in the minority,to see fans fighting amongst themselves ,the crecendo of boo's that are heard e.t.c e.t.c tells you everything ,i will always support my club BUT no longer will i invest anymore money other than the renewing of my season ticket ,which i would not have done if i knew what i know now ,for this regime to squander ,am furious and i lay the blame at the chairman's door and so do so many more fans .
I'm Watford through and through but i feel no passion for the club anymore, we are getting lied to and mislead. The club i love is becoming a joke.
Stephen Baldwin, hemel hempstead says...
1:17pm Fri 30 May 08
kane1, london says...
1:17pm Fri 30 May 08
tiggysdad, St Albans says...
1:22pm Fri 30 May 08
Dave, Holborn says...
1:28pm Fri 30 May 08
Barabbas, Watford says...
1:37pm Fri 30 May 08
jonty, Watford says...
1:52pm Fri 30 May 08
Dave, Holborn says...
2:05pm Fri 30 May 08
JohnBoy, Watford says...
2:08pm Fri 30 May 08
Barabbas wrote:You are very forgiving. Can you really forgive someone who has spent 3.25 million on rubbish? Aidy wrote in the WO how he is looking after our heritage. Does anybody think that throwing 3.25M away is looking after our heritage?
On the positive side Adie will learn a massive leasson from this shoddy affair. He acted like Billy Big Bucks splashing his premiership budget around and wow hasn't he caught a cold and been made to look like a complete wally! In future he needs to realise that if WFC is going to spend £3million it needs to be on a consumate performer like Allan Nielsen, the previous record signing who was worth every penny. Blown out deadbeats like Ellington rely on nothing more than rapidly diminishing reputations. Added to that he is worthless for one month because of his religious faith- perhaps he should not be paid during this time? It's good riddance to our worst ever signing. Even Moralee scored more goals and had a better attitude. The guy never wanted to join us in the first place but was happy to take the cash. Come one Adie- back to your original maxim. We want young, hungry players and those with something to prove. This works for us, not so called 'names' who just want to pick up a truckload of cash.
Des, Hatch End says...
2:57pm Fri 30 May 08
I understand the need to lessen the wage bill etc but anyone who loses over £1.5M in just 6 months would be sacked.At least the board+Hoofers managed to get massive bonuses/pay rises.
The fact that Aidy sacked the guy who told him not to waste money on Ellington makes him look even more foolish now.Does he know anything about football?
The sooner he goes the better.
Des
mohican, sutton says...
3:12pm Fri 30 May 08
QPR are after Adam Johnson or are we a bit slow now, seems we are now the chumps of transfers deals.
Hull got good help from Man Utd with there loan in Cambell. How about getting on the phone and getting Ben for next season....For gods sake do something.
henry, oxhey says...
3:14pm Fri 30 May 08
Davisx, MK says...
4:11pm Fri 30 May 08
henry, oxhey says...
4:18pm Fri 30 May 08
here??.
The official site states that Derby will have an option to purchase NE at the end of the loan period (not be given a free transfer).
A bit more info on the deal would obviously be welcome.
Neckache, London says...
4:28pm Fri 30 May 08
paul jones, the grove says...
4:41pm Fri 30 May 08
VIALLI VIALLI
oxheypaul, watford says...
4:42pm Fri 30 May 08
This is all a pathetic attempt to get out of paying WBA what we still owe them on Ellington.
Derby seem to have been desperate to sign him and have just collected £2.65m for Earnshaw.
Surely anyone with half a brain for negotiation would have suggested a fee of £2.65m for Ellington.
I just hope we can scramble together the £1m it would take to sign Adam Johnson.
VoR, watford says...
5:49pm Fri 30 May 08
Anyhow believe me this is all good, it suits all parties involved,
on top of which Derby have promised not to beat us next season, 2 precious points could see us remaining in this division......
There are so many short sighted people on here it's scary!!
Roger, St Albans says...
6:14pm Fri 30 May 08
JohnBoy, Watford says...
6:38pm Fri 30 May 08
Roger wrote:BBC:
Interesting that the boo-boys are quick to take to the airwaves to condemn the club for "giving away" Ellington and for striking a poor deal, when they cannot possibly know all the facts. Actually the stories on this site, on the club site and in the Observor newspaper are not the same, so how can they know the facts? The club says Derby will have "an option to buy" at the end of the season long loan, and in the meantime will pay his full wages. The paper story does not mention a "free transfer", so where does the "free transfer" story on the Observor website come from? Wait till this is made clear before rushing to judgement guys. Has anyone noticed that Ellington will still have at least a year of his Watford contract left at the end of next season, so will not (as I understand it)actually be eligable for a free transfer at that point? Derby will surely have to pay a fee for him at the end of the season if they still want him. And if they don't, he will come back with some transfer/ loan value left. I hope he succeeds, but not so well that he pushes Derby to promotion at our expense. Stewart of course is playing the system, using his free transfer status to improve his wages above what he could have got at Watford.Fair enough. Jordan Parkes is a better left back, and cheaper at this point in time. Interesting also that those who wanted to get rid of Ellington at any price a few weeks ago are now complaining that he has gone too cheaply!
Striker Ellington, who worked with Rams boss Paul Jewell at Wigan, has joined on loan for a year and will complete a free transfer switch next summer.
Setanta Sports:
Ellington, who worked with Jewell at Wigan, arrives at Pride Park on an initial one-year loan which will then turn into a free transfer at the end of next season
The Press Association:
Ellington, 26, has signed a year's loan deal, which will then turn into a permanent move on a free transfer
Is that enough sources for you?
How can anybody see anything other than bad business in this deal. God I thought Colin was over pessimistic calling you guys happy clappers but he's right, you all fall for this spin.
Explain to everyone how this is good business and good for the club. We're a shambles, we're incompetent we're a joke.
Billie, Kings Langley says...
7:13pm Fri 30 May 08
Is it me or is my club run by a bunch of losers. Just realised...they are doing very nicely personally, so it is us lot who are the losers.
Metal Mickey, Iver Bucks says...
7:30pm Fri 30 May 08
VoR, watford says...
7:41pm Fri 30 May 08
Holly68, what's your take?
After all said and done we've got rid of one of the worst excuses for a forward (apart from the obvious) we've ever had and how the hell Jewell thinks he can turn him around is a mystery, he's plainly unsure because of the deal, Ellington is not right in the head and who else would have this expensive flop anyway, no other club would get near to paying his wages, i'm glad were not having him for next season filling a position that others are itching to have!
We'll be alright, after the cull we'll be back to the close nit unit we were when we gained promotion, under a more prudent regime pulling in the same direction.
Rest assured we're being properly run.
Have faith.
Scotshorn, Aberdeen says...
7:48pm Fri 30 May 08
Roger wrote:Roger - as has been pointed out already, BBC, Setanta and The Press Assoc all replicate WO story regarding loan/free transfer- as does the Derby website. On the balance of probability, I'd say there was a high degree of truth & can only wonder why WFC website isn't more explicit.
Interesting that the boo-boys are quick to take to the airwaves to condemn the club for "giving away" Ellington and for striking a poor deal, when they cannot possibly know all the facts. Actually the stories on this site, on the club site and in the Observor newspaper are not the same, so how can they know the facts? The club says Derby will have "an option to buy" at the end of the season long loan, and in the meantime will pay his full wages. The paper story does not mention a "free transfer", so where does the "free transfer" story on the Observor website come from? Wait till this is made clear before rushing to judgement guys. Has anyone noticed that Ellington will still have at least a year of his Watford contract left at the end of next season, so will not (as I understand it)actually be eligable for a free transfer at that point? Derby will surely have to pay a fee for him at the end of the season if they still want him. And if they don't, he will come back with some transfer/ loan value left. I hope he succeeds, but not so well that he pushes Derby to promotion at our expense. Stewart of course is playing the system, using his free transfer status to improve his wages above what he could have got at Watford.Fair enough. Jordan Parkes is a better left back, and cheaper at this point in time. Interesting also that those who wanted to get rid of Ellington at any price a few weeks ago are now complaining that he has gone too cheaply!
Not that I'm worried -he's gone & that's the main thing as far as I'm concerned. He was an expensive flop - end of story. He wasn't the first and won't be the last, in this or any other club. That's football.
As to your comment that he's not eligible for a free transfer because he's still under contract - there's no rule that a club has to ask a fee for any player. They can offload players for nothing if they want - it's simply good business sense to ask for a fee.
VoR, watford says...
7:50pm Fri 30 May 08
Aidy described him as "the best in the world"...who would that be, any ideas?
BTW....Cracking post m8!
DORSETHORNS, DORSET says...
8:18pm Fri 30 May 08
But you must admit NE had fantastic legs.
Worth 3.5m in my book .
I tell you else had nice legs ; Wilf , a fine set of pins , shame about the F.A.Cup , they should have been there .
Oh well , here is to another Zappa season in August .
I LOVE WATFORD
Andy, St Albans says...
9:51am Fri 30 May 08
If it's over £2m then fair enough, if not then the whole Ellington fiasco is a total embarrassing disaster and they are trying to cover it up.