Well worth a read about Mark Ashton
https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/s...on-the-departure-of-mark-ashton-from-watford/
https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/s...on-the-departure-of-mark-ashton-from-watford/
Mark Ashton
- Thread starter Red Robin
- Start date
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22nd December 2008
Oliver Phillips reflects on the departure of Mark Ashton from Watford
By Oliver Phillips
This report is 12 years old, interesting but times do change, unusual selling corners.
Oliver Phillips reflects on the departure of Mark Ashton from Watford
By Oliver Phillips
This report is 12 years old, interesting but times do change, unusual selling corners.
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I think a few of us have long suspected the issue at our club is with Ashton.. Maybe Hughton has heard of the Ashton 'legacy' from his Watford days, and that's a stumbling block for him?
Ashton comes across to me as a ruthless businessman. SLs executioner in chief and a very difficult person to cross - footballs version of Dominic Cummings.
Some of his dealings in the transfer market have been superb and they have certainly eclipsed the few ‘duds’.
I have wondered for some time if he was really pulling the strings and LJ had little or no say on player purchases or sales. I would point to us selling 3 established team captains in 2 seasons as possible proof of this. I can’t believe that LJ would have wanted it - team captains are the on-pitch authority and are a special type of player - most trusted by the manager.
Ashton, kept in check, is an asset - a secret weapon. Given too much power however, he could be the reason bigger named managers seem to not want to come here, leaving us with the unproven types who would put up with the regime and Ashton in order to cut their teeth in the Championship.
Of course I could be wrong - these are just my thoughts based upon what I see as a fan, and the tiny snippets of news in the press.
Some of his dealings in the transfer market have been superb and they have certainly eclipsed the few ‘duds’.
I have wondered for some time if he was really pulling the strings and LJ had little or no say on player purchases or sales. I would point to us selling 3 established team captains in 2 seasons as possible proof of this. I can’t believe that LJ would have wanted it - team captains are the on-pitch authority and are a special type of player - most trusted by the manager.
Ashton, kept in check, is an asset - a secret weapon. Given too much power however, he could be the reason bigger named managers seem to not want to come here, leaving us with the unproven types who would put up with the regime and Ashton in order to cut their teeth in the Championship.
Of course I could be wrong - these are just my thoughts based upon what I see as a fan, and the tiny snippets of news in the press.
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You don't need to be a dictator to have that position but you do need respect from your flock. From most accounts he is the spanner in the works that scares people off Ashton Gate and for me the worst possibility is that is exactly what SL wants, no compromise.