Yet we haven't done so. Presumably part of the "understanding". My guess for a while has been that the League go after Bassini as heavily as possible (a lifetime ban and a massive although likely unenforceable fine) and go after Watford as lightly as the evidence and their own rules will possibly allow them to, which will probably be a heavy fine just like with QPR. We then attempt to recover that money from Baz through the courts, in the knowledge that even if we don't actually receive the cash due to bankruptcy, a favourable outcome would make us and the league look quite a bit better.
At the end of the day the previous owners were willing sellers ( though we know now why the Russo's were willing to sell there shares so cheaply ) so the FA cannot be held responsible for Bas for coming into ownership of the club. No scope for suing there. There may be questions to ask about why other directors/senior managers were not aware of the rule breaking and financial shenanigans that were going on . GT as Chairman has to tell some part of this story. Perhaps if he can convince the FA that Bas was "acting alone" and that the Club is as much a victim as an accessory/beneficiary of rule breaking, that will help our case. He has massive credibility within football. If he can prevent the imposition of punitive sanctions on the club that will be his last best service to Watford. Bet he did not expect to be in this position when he agreed to be Chairman. What a nightmare for him.
When Watford have been to the league we get buggered. This is very true when we were doing transfer tribunals, Paul Atkinson and Danny Grahams cases show this. The precident of Portsmouth and Luton Town misbehaving financially and the next regime has to suffer is set so I think there is no hope for the club. This is optimistic.
Definite grounds for a negligence claim against the FL and I believe the pozzos are savvy enough to play a decent deck to minimise damage. Baz didnt have the brains or means to do this alone far more in line with his financiers. FL pull your finger out and get all 3.
The QPR case is looked at as a yardstick to see what could happen. Seven charges were investigated and two found proved. They were all over third party ownership, something that seems more serious than handing in some copies of financial arrangements. QPR were fined £875,000 and no points were deducted.
This is the way I see it... I think the FL will try and hammer us. They will probably think we have played them for fools, so want to dish out some kind of revenge. They won't care it was all the doing of someone who didn't have the best interests of the club at heart, but just personal gain. They will just see Watford FC lied to them. They will beleive we should have been under a transfer embargo, so we have benefited. If the FL doesn;t think so, no doubt a number of other clubs in the Championship will. Leeds have a chip on their shoulder over the FL, so personally think they will be quite vocal on this. As for what will happen. If it looks like we could go up, expect a points deduction this season. My understanding is if we get promoted, the FL won't have any power to deduct points as the FL and PL are different enitities. If they go down the points route, lets just hope it's no more than 10... but we have seen they are a law unto themselves! What I would like to see is they understand we have also been taken for a ride - that these loans went directly to a former owner, and financially we never benefitted from this. Maybe a hefty fine and a suspended points deduction will suffice.... but knowing the FL, I won't hold my breath!
Interesting to read the Sun report when it said 'Watfordâs new owners have reached an understanding with the League on the issue but, in 'theory''.blah blah blah. The interesting part is the fact 'Watford's New owner have reached an understanding'!! What does this mean? Has it already reached a conclusion and th punishment has already been agreed between both parties? I personally think so! But we will see!
Looks like we have some support regarding the punishment from an unlikely source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/ar...-horse--youre-paid-deserve-Martin-Samuel.html 4th section down...
I'd like to see Bassini charged...anyone know any herds of African elephants with time on their hands?
