VOICES OF THE VIC

JONNY BRICK LISTENS IN AS WATFORD FAN PODCASTS TRY TO MAKE SENSE OF WHERE THE CLUB THEY LOVE FINDS ITSELF...

When Mike, Jon and Jason began to chunter on about their life as Watford fans, the club they loved which they still chronicle in their podcast From The Rookery End - were a mid-table Championship side managed by Sean Dyche, a former player in his first management job who had been given the job after time in charge of the youth team.

Fourteen years later, after six Premier League seasons and the arrival and departure of a plethora of South American talent, Watford finished the 2023-24 season in mid-table and confirmed the permanent appointment of Tom Cleverley, a former player in his first management job etc.

The only difference now is that there are more televised games, which this season are immovable until Christmas as a sop to the Fan-Led Review.

This should mean more supporters can admire Tom Cleverley's yellow and black army, including Georgian playmaker Giorgi Chakvetadze who has taken his manager's old number eight shirt. It must be selling well in Tblisi.

Yet the pre-season From The Rookery End podcast episode, which kicked off a 15th season of hopeful endeavour, is full of pessimism and worry, as well as a loss of confidence in the same owner who overhauled the club in 2012 but who offered fans a five per cent stake in an asset which is losing value by not being in the top division.

"Supporting a football club is supposed to be fun," sighs Mike. "Should I even bother going? Is it fun? I worry so much because I've invested so much in it... The noise has become worse and worse." He wonders if relegation is possible, given that owner Gino Pozzo wants a return on his investment. He might have to lower his asking price, something an experienced businessman like Mike knows he must do.

"Clearly he hasn't got an exit strategy; he's been playing Football Manager," says Jon.