Watford Mailing List - a reliable contributor. Here's an extract. "While the article does not say that long time servant of the club Chris Cummins was also kicked out, that is what happened yesterday. Good ridance to Hockaday, but amazed that Cummins (who has been at the club full time for a decade and probably another 5 years before that) has been kicked out given the fact that he does not work with the professionals and it is a strange time of year to be culling lower down the pyramid. From what I understand he was an excellent coach and has been key in the development of some of the talent which has come through the club in recent years."
Should we start to get worried about all this going on in the background, I'm not happy the way the club is dealing with this.
I don't worry as I feel Aidy knows what's needed. We have no way of knowing everything behind this story, but I put my faith in Aidy and in Graham Simpson. I doubted before but since then they've shown themselves worthy of my trust. Call me naive but that's how I see it.
From "This Is Hertfordshire" Hornets sack two senior staff Watford FC have parted company with two senior members of staff. According to reports, first team coach David Hockaday and assistant Academy manager Chris Cummings were both sacked this week. Previously youth team coach at Vicarage Road, Hockaday was promoted by Aidy Boothroyd to first team coach last summer. Although popular at the club, Watford's perilous position at the bottom of the Premiership table, ten points from safety, is thought to have led to his sacking. Cummings was one of Watford's longest serving members of staff. As assistant Academy manager to David Dodds he oversaw the early careers of many current first team regulars including Ashley Young, Lloyd Doyley and Richard Lee. 34-year-old defender Malky Mackay, who scored twice in Watford's 4-1 win against Stockport County last week, has now become player-coach at the Vicarage Road club. Ian Moody from Watford FC could not officially confirm that Hockaday and Cummings had been sacked but said that a review of Watford's non-playing staff is currently being undertaken. Pity they can't spell Cummins name
If you don't care about Hockaday and Cummins then you don't care about the club. Those two, especially Cummins imo, have been instrumental in the development of all our young players that you watch in the first team now. The club owes them a lot. That said times move on and if Aidy has decided they have to go then thats life.
Cummins was a superb developer of youth. he has worked with the likes of Ash, lee (choke ), Theo etc and has been an integral part of the club for many years. i guess 90% of fans wouldn't even know what the guy looks like, but rest assured he has had a major impact on this club. Not a good move
Depends though. Maybe Aidy feels they're being brought through with the wrong tactical philosophy engrained in them?
Again, if Aidy needs to make changes then that is fine - I believe in the guy. But please do not ignore the fact that Hockaday and Cummins have developed talent that problem is worth around £10 - £15 miilion to the Club today, still with us. They could not have done it without the Club being here but they HAVE done it. The least we can do is give them some respect. I know for a fact their fellow coaches do.
I heard they had been sacked, but I haven't read why or heard any rumours about it. Although it is good to find out others' opinion on here. IMO Cummins and Hockaday are partly responsible for a lot of the talent we have from our academy, and for that I am grateful. Would be interesting to know why they have been sacked then...
