http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/watfordfc/watfordfcnews/11448036._/ Luke Dowling.... ( not Downing.. apols) Seems like he is good at sniffing out lower league players and we tried to get him last year but he couldn't leave Blackburn.... and that Nani has been waiting a while to leave. Looks like we will be seeking out lower league UK based players as per the Pozzo system...
U You gave me a fright, I thought you meant ex England, Liverpool and West Ham rubbish winger Tony Downing! I think it's Dowling you mean. Nearly had a very bad start to the day.
sorry will amend! {The thread header seemingly cant be changed even in advanced edit??} Meanwhile.. from the club website: Hornets confirm arrival of young Englishman in key football role at Vicarage Road... WATFORD FC is pleased to confirm the appointment of Luke Dowling as Sporting Director at Vicarage Road. The newly-created role will have a strong UK focus, allowing Dowling to use his experiences as Head of Recruitment at both Portsmouth and Blackburn Rovers to benefit the Hornets in both the short and long-term. The 37-year-old will tie in with CEO Scott Duxbury and the Pozzo family ownership structure to help give a truly all-encompassing feel to Watford's recruitment methods. Based primarily at the club's UCL London Colney training complex, Dowling will also work closely with newly-appointed Head Coach Oscar Garcia to continually shape and perfect the balance of the Hornets' first-team squad. "Luke's arrival adds an extra dimension and focus on the domestic market to complement the wealth of knowledge of international players and transfer markets that Watford FC is fortunate to be able to call upon," said Duxbury of the appointment. "I have no doubt that he'll prove an excellent addition and, along with the other key football staff, I look forward to working with him towards the shared aim of future success for the club." Read more at http://www.watfordfc.com/news/artic...g-watford-fc-1894804.aspx#UDMURiu9sp56xJAz.99
From reading about Luke Dowling the one thing that strikes you is that the Leeds United fans will be spitting feathers. We gave the team a smack, they percieved we pinched their new manager and now we have another staff member who declined their offers.
Stuart..? Anyway onto the subject matter... Young manager, younger Director of Football. Makes sense. Thinking of the longer term future. Pozzos do move quickly don't they!
Fits in as the English piece of the Pozzo global scouting network as priorities look to change. Obviously they plan on promotion this year not easy or a given but they're throwing the kitchen sink at it, got the right structure in the squad as they saw it which was obviously Nanis directive and next step will be to get the right players into the shop window. Squad will need to be very large to allow for the redundancy required to be permanently selling whilst maintaining a league place. On paper a good team.
http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/140905-luke-dowling-interview-watford-fc-1898910.aspx? Very open interview.. comes across as a little inexperienced though....
Oh, I don't know about that.... between those clubs he has been at I'd say that this will be a step into somewhat calmer waters. I would have thought that he would learn more in his tenure at Portsmouth and Blackburn than many would learn in their entire careers. We'll soon see though!
