Former Watford striker Kevin Phillips says it is “no surprise” the club’s supporters have had enough of owner Gino Pozzo, following a fresh show of no confidence in the Italian businessman.
The 1881 Movement, one of Watford’s prominent supporters’ groups, published an open letter to the club’s owners after Saturday’s 4-0 home defeat to Burnley.
Signed by spokesman Roy Moore, the letter cited growing frustration with the club’s direction after a period of instability and disappointing results.
The defeat also prompted public criticism from former Watford striker Troy Deeney and legendary former chairman Sir Elton John.
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PICTURES: Alamy
Frustration for Hornets
The Hornets’ woes deepened in midweek as a 5-1 defeat away to Cardiff City condemned Alessio Dionisi’s side to a fourth consecutive loss and dropped them into the Championship relegation zone.
The opening-day victory over Southampton already feels a long way away, and Phillips believes the supporters’ frustration is understandable after years of upheaval at Vicarage Road.
“I covered the Watford game on the first game of the season, and yet another manager was in charge,” the former Sunderland and England striker told BestBettingSites.co.uk.
“They’re a great bunch of supporters, a real family club, and it’s sad to see the fans having to do this.
“But you get to a point where they’re fed up; they’ve had enough of seeing their team lose.
“I think they’ve conceded nine in the last two games. They follow them all over, so they’ve every right to vent their frustration.
“It’s so frustrating, isn’t it, because Watford are a great club. But it’s no surprise now that the fans have had enough.”
Dionisi is Watford’s 12th head coach, excluding interim appointments, since the end of the 2020-21 season, and the 24th permanent managerial appointment since the Pozzo family took over in 2012.
The Hornets have not played in the Premier League since the 2021-22 season.
Boro backed for promotion
Middlesbrough are giving Phillips reason to be optimistic after making a strong start to the Championship season.
Neto Borges went from zero to hero on Tuesday, earning forgiveness for his earlier own goal with a late strike to secure a 3-2 victory over Stoke City.
The win extended Boro’s unbeaten run to eight games and kept them in the promotion picture, two points behind leaders Swansea City.
The 53-year-old has backed the Teessiders to maintain their challenge for promotion, believing a return to the top flight would be a major boost for the club and the wider North East area.
“I hope Middlesbrough can get promoted,” he added.
“It’s been a long time since that happened, and spending most of my time now in the North East, yeah, there’ll be some fans that don’t want it, but the majority, 80-95% of the fans, want all three teams in the Premier League
“It’s great for the area. And it’d be great obviously for Boro, having been out for so long.
“As I said, I tipped them for promotion this year. They look a good side. And with [Will] Lankshear, the league’s joint top goalscorer, they’ve got every opportunity.”
Kevin Phillips’ comments were made in an exclusive interview for BestBettingSites.co.uk.
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