Geo V Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 Leicester City manager Robert Kelly has revealed that he did not want to let midfielder Gareth Williams leave the club. The 25-year-old yesterday signed a two-and-a-half year deal with the Premiership's bottom side Watford for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around £200,000. Williams, who made 91 appearances and scored six goals for City, was out of contract at the Walkers Stadium in the summer. Despite talks over a new deal, Williams decided the lure of Premiership football with the Vicarage Road club was too great to resist. City manager Kelly said: "Obviously Gareth is a player I didn't want to lose but the club accepted the offer. "I had spoken to Gareth with regards to a new contract but the move to Watford gives him the chance to play Premiership football. That is where he wants to play. "In the end we have got the best deal possible for the club. "Gareth is a smashing lad and has been a great servant to this football club. "We wish him all the best for the future." Williams joined City from Nottingham Forest in July 2004, where he was out of contract. His young age entitled Forest to compensation fee which was set by a tribunal as £500,000 with a further £100,000 if City were promoted in his first season and a 15 per cent sell-on clause. Forest had originally claimed they would demand between £3million and £5m. Williams' final start for City came in the 3-2 defeat at Cardiff. He became the fourth City player to leave the Walkers Stadium during this transfer window, following the departures of Josh Low to Peterborough for up to £100,000, Chris O'Grady to Rotherham for up to £65,000, and Momo Sylla, who was released. Andy Welsh, who was on loan from Sunderland, has returned to the North East. Williams, who was not signed in time to make his debut against Manchester United at Old Trafford last night, told the Mercury it was not an easy decision to leave City. "It was tough," admitted Williams, who could make his first Watford appearance at home to Bolton at the weekend. "It's not easy to leave the team in a difficult position like we are in at the moment. I found it hard to part company with Robert (Kelly) in particular. Williams added: "He has been very good to me since he has been at the club. "I think a lot of him as a person and a manager."
Ric Flair Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 £200k is good business, considering he'd have left for free in the summer.
Geo V Posted 2 February 2007 Author Posted 2 February 2007 You would have thought that he would have signed a contract if the club really rated him?
Durnerz Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 For a player who was due to be out of contract in the summer and probably wouldn't have signed a new one i'd say its not a bad deal. The only worry I have is who RK has in mind to be our playmaker, although Williams was largely ineffective at the best of times he was still a player who could make things happen from the middle and get the odd goal or two, Hughes to me looks too lightweight and not commited enough, Weso is an injury worry most of the time and the less said about Andy 'the tramp' Johnson the better.
James. Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 So he wants Premiership football? He'll get maximum 14 games and I reckon it's nigh on impossible that he'll play in every one of them. Is it really worth it? He's not Premiership class so 'putting himself in the shop window' doesn't really wash with me. Maybe he knows something we don't. In any case £200k is a decent amount of money for a lazy player who never really performed. Good business for Leicester in my book. Bad move for Williams.
Dr The Singh Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 So he wants Premiership football? He'll get maximum 14 games and I reckon it's nigh on impossible that he'll play in every one of them. Is it really worth it? He's not Premiership class so 'putting himself in the shop window' doesn't really wash with me. Maybe he knows something we don't. In any case £200k is a decent amount of money for a lazy player who never really performed. Good business for Leicester in my book. Bad move for Williams. You reckon, with the state this clubs in, Watford are in alot better position to regain there premiership status then us!!!
James. Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 You reckon, with the state this clubs in, Watford are in alot better position to regain there premiership status then us!!! Possibly but I can't see Watford bouncing straight back next year myself. In any case he's not a Premiership player and I can't see this move will do him much good at all. Im my opinion he should have knuckled down and worked on his game/motivation at Leicester, he had ability and was a great passer. I can't see him setting the world, or even Watford, alight now he's moved.
Leicfox Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 I think he'll be a totally different player under Aidy Boothroyd good luck to him. 200k is about right.
Geo V Posted 2 February 2007 Author Posted 2 February 2007 I still think RK is unwise to keep coming out and telling the press that he is unhappy. Keep it in-house as this stuff only winds up us fans more and more.
Lester LXXIV Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 So he wants Premiership football? He'll get maximum 14 games and I reckon it's nigh on impossible that he'll play in every one of them. Is it really worth it? He's not Premiership class so 'putting himself in the shop window' doesn't really wash with me. Maybe he knows something we don't. In any case £200k is a decent amount of money for a lazy player who never really performed. Good business for Leicester in my book. Bad move for Williams. Yeah, Like signing on fee and a better wage!
Bert Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 The thing is if Garth wanted to stay, he would've.
Fox in a Box Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 200K >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> no contract in the summer!.... = good business innt
Steven Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 "Gareth is a smashing lad and has been a great servant to this football club. "We wish him all the best for the future." "It's not easy to leave the team in a difficult position like we are in at the moment. I found it hard to part company with Robert (Kelly) in particular. Williams added: "He has been very good to me since he has been at the club. "I think a lot of him as a person and a manager." As Thracian has said it is all getting a little too cosy at City for players and coach alike.
holly Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 hmmm well i thought we might of got atleast £500,000 maybe thats slightly hopeful though
davieG Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 That's because it meant he had to make some decisions.
lookwhaticando Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 hmmm well i thought we might of got atleast £500,000 maybe thats slightly hopeful though Wildly optimistic I'd say. He's not the kind of player who can command a huge fee only a few months before his contract is up. He's hardly going to make or break Watford's season either! He'll probably be a squad player, 200k sounds about right.
Filbert_Ross Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 hmmm well i thought we might of got atleast £500,000 maybe thats slightly hopeful though I wouldnt pay that for him if he had 14 years left on his contract.
Tommeh Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 well if he does as well at watford as Jordo Stewart has then he'll do well. Good luck to him I always rated him as a very good player who only ever showed glimpses in a city shirt of what he could do. I think he'll do well at watford, his passing ability will be very useful in the prem and its probably less physical than the championship which suits his style of play. He shouldn't have any pressure on him this season as watford are just about doomed but I'll look forward to giving him a good reception at the walkers next term.
FrankieWorthoYaggedMyWife Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 I'll look forward to giving him a good reception at the walkers next term Fcuk that, boo the forest scum!
Sods Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 Who cares now,hes gone. Weve got the Horse. Exactly
Tommeh Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 Fcuk that, boo the forest scum! go for it If anyone follows you williams could be the 1st player hated by both city and forest.
Simi Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 The thing is if Garth wanted to stay, he would've. Exactly. He obviusoly wanted to be back in the prem even if it is for a couple of months.
Floating Fox Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 The club offered Williams a new contract but he said he'd rather play for watford so fair play to the club
Simi Posted 2 February 2007 Posted 2 February 2007 The club offered Williams a new contract but he said he'd rather play for watford so fair play to the club True. Nothing we could do about it. Just another case of a player wanting to play at the top level.
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