Tommy Smith - Gazumped by Pompey - Thread

[Royal Rother]

Does this show that Madejski has actually taken his loans back as you claim?

No, but it does show there are 2 companies and we only get shown the accounts for one of them....I wonder why that is???

Reading Football Club Holdings and Reading Football Club are available seperately.

And neither of them will show that Madejski had, up to June 2008, "taken (any of) his loans back".

[Arnie_Pie]

If Madejski were to find a buyer for the club, does that buyer also have to buy the hotel? In other words, is the hotel included in the price for the football club?

Not sure tbh. If the hotel is making a profit I would expect it to be a sweetener for any potential deal.

[Royal Rother]

TBH I think this is just the WFC chairman playing games. I still expect this to come through.

w_r...spot on as always.

Real factssssssss?

[Focher]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5511397,00.html

it appears he is having a medical at Reading, gr8 newz

[SteveRoyal]

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/localsport/4562165.Smith_having_medical_at_Reading/

And Tommy, why Reading? Of all the clubs, you had to go and join up with that total **** who seems intent on offending us. I'm not being funny, but i hope you all get relegated.

A side-ways move for TS just like BR's style of football! Not the end of the world. Plenty more Tommy Smiths and Nigel Callghans in the sea!

Good luck Tommy, but I hope if you go to Reading you are not in a team that wins promotion!! I think you are better than finishing your career there, and other clubs that have shown an interest will do better than they will.

Hmm. Is it possible for a new "derby" to come out of this summer?

Hope so. We need one!

I doubt it will be an "official" derby. It will be like the Sheff Utd issue. Commentator's said there've been "tensions" between the 2 clubs in the past.

If Madejski were to find a buyer for the club, does that buyer also have to buy the hotel? In other words, is the hotel included in the price for the football club?

Isn't the stadium, hotel, etc. all owned by Madejski? Don't RFC rent out the stadium from (as my Dad says...) "that cheeky bugger"?

[Royal Rother]

No.

[winchester_royal]

TBH I think this is just the WFC chairman playing games. I still expect this to come through.

w_r...spot on as always.

Real factssssssss?

You know it's the trrrruuuuuuuuuuuuutttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

[SteveRoyal]

Ah.

[Royal Lady]

Still as clear as mud to me I'm afraid - but surely one of the reasons someone may not have previously come in to buy the club is because of its inflated price due to having to buy the hotel as well? I don't know if this is right - which is why I'm asking. but as the accounts shown on Club Policies quite clearly include the hotel (loan of £17 million to it from JM) and its various costs - staffing etc, then that's how it looks to me and might explain why no-one appears to have been interested to buy, thus far.

[loyalroyal4life]

TBH I think this is just the WFC chairman playing games. I still expect this to come through.

w_r...spot on as always.

bravo

[winchester_royal]

TBH I think this is just the WFC chairman playing games. I still expect this to come through.

w_r...spot on as always.

bravo

Thank you.

[Lukewarm Lager]

Still as clear as mud to me I'm afraid - but surely one of the reasons someone may not have previously come in to buy the club is because of its inflated price due to having to buy the hotel as well? I don't know if this is right - which is why I'm asking. but as the accounts shown on Club Policies quite clearly include the hotel (loan of £17 million to it from JM) and its various costs - staffing etc, then that's how it looks to me and might explain why no-one appears to have been interested to buy, thus far.

I assume that the football club and the hotel are held in separate subsidiaries, protecting the assets of one, should the other go to the wall.

[Dirk Gently]

Still as clear as mud to me I'm afraid - but surely one of the reasons someone may not have previously come in to buy the club is because of its inflated price due to having to buy the hotel as well? I don't know if this is right - which is why I'm asking. but as the accounts shown on Club Policies quite clearly include the hotel (loan of £17 million to it from JM) and its various costs - staffing etc, then that's how it looks to me and might explain why no-one appears to have been interested to buy, thus far.

Nobody wants to buy because it's virtually impossible to make any money out of owning a football club - the survey of football
club finance directors published recently asked the question "Do you expect to make a pre-tax profit in your next accounting period?"

Only 9 clubs out of the top two tiers answered "yes."

The only people who can buy clubs these days are those with massive financial resources who want a play-thing, and who are happy to see it haemorrhage money away.

[TBM]

Apparently Smith is having a medical AS WE SPEAK (type)

[SteveRoyal]

Apparently Smith is having a medical AS WE SPEAK (type)

Old news, TBM.

[andrew1957]

i'm still sure he'll be a Reading player by the end of the transfer window.

He has one year on his contract, it's doubtful he'll sign at new contract at Watford, so in Jan he'll be worth even less

On the contrary I will be extremely surprised if we go back for him now - Sir John will lose far too much face for that to happen.

I suspect we will either now get no one or else that we will panic buy a couple of poor quality older players to placate the fans.

Frankly it is too late now - best to sign no one and accept that we are in a relegation fight and then re-think the strategy at the end of December depending on where we are then.

I suspect That Smith will have moved on to pastures new by then though and sadly not to us.

As the EP has now confirmed the medical I withdraw my unfortunately timed comments above and apologise unreservedly.

I really did not think we would go back for Smith so all credit to Sir John for doing so.

My faith is at least to some extent restored.

[(.)Boobies(.)]

Apparently Smith is having a medical AS WE SPEAK (type)

Ignore that. It was a hoax caller to SSN.

[Dorset-Knob]

Apparently Smith is having a medical AS WE SPEAK (type)

Scoop! scoop! scoop!

Oh sh@t fished in again!

[M-U-R-T-Y]

BREAKING NEWS!





Tommy Smith having medical at Reading.

[handbags_harris]

Some pretty well informed and well thought out comments from a Watford fan on the whole protracted saga I think it's fair to say he's exasperated and, like most Watford, is a bit f*cked off with RFC:

Generally dump would be my description. It's not illogical to think that Rodgers has used his inside knowledge of the worrying state of our finances to try and weasel Smith out on the cheap. I'd also be interested to know as to why after Sheffield Utd had a £1.8 million bid accepted, Reading made two further bids for Smith below that valuation (including a cheeky 'take it or leave it' £1.5 million bid, if what I read in the Watford Observer is correct). Factor in Rodgers' "I know Smith wants to join us" comment and does become quite aggravating.

I think most Watford fans realised Smith wouldn't stay with us. He's in his last year of contract and we can't afford his wages - that's been clear for a while. Most fans also don't grudge Smith a move away from the team - he's been great for us - but from our perspective it does appear Rodgers and Hammond have tried everything they can to steal Smith on the cheap.

Personally, I'm glad this is nearing a resolution as it has become a farce. Credit to Smith, he's not let the speculation affect his performances - he was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch on Saturday. Tell you what, get Sir Madge to chuck in another £50k, we'll throw in McHadEnough, who once again clearly can't be bothered to even run.