Watford Betray Local Youngsters With Downgrade Of Academy

Stage one in the Italians' conversion of Watford into a nursery club for Pozzo Wood's Udinese. Why do you need to develop home grown talent when you can send Italian youngsters over to your very own Hertfordshire finishing school?

Godfather Nani has accepted responsibility for explaining this one, putting words into GianFredo's mouth as he assures Watford fans, "Gianfranco Zola has said there will be always be a place in his squad for talented youngsters." Of course there will! That's why the Pozzo Family have bought the club: no need to worry about results, it's development of young players for Udinese that counts!

Expect Consiglieri Duxbury to make a statement about "the Project" in the next 48 hours to keep Watford fans sweet, and for Nodding Dog GianFredo to be rolled out to tell the world that he is very 'appy with everything that is 'appening at Watford.

But tell me, if you are a bright young talent, why would you sign up for Watford's Category 3 Academy when other clubs offer a Category One alternative?

Short sighted or what? The £9.75m secured for Ashley Young has surely covered the Academy's costs for the last decade!