CHAIRMAN Graham Simpson and manager Aidy Boothroyd expressed their delight in capturing goal machine Nathan Ellington today.

The club record signing finally sealed the £3.25m deal after months of monitoring on Watford's part.

Chief Executive Mark Ashton has been heavily involved in negotiating the particularly tricky deal over a lengthy period and finally, all at Vicarage Road are delighted to have secured the services of the former West Bromwich Albion front man.

Chairman Graham Simpson said: "For me, as Chairman, this is a momentous day in the club's history but more pertinently, in our recent history.

"It proves just how far we as a club have come since I took over the Chairmanship, that we are today in a position to conclude a deal of such magnitude."

Manager Aidy Boothroyd was equally pleased: "We've been monitoring him for a long time, we tried to get him in January but we were unable to. It's been a long chase but Mark Ashton, myself and the Chairman have worked really hard to get this player in. It's a very relieved manager that speaks to you tonight because this was the big one for me, the key piece in the jigsaw. 

"I think it's impressive that this club has gone out and made as bold a statement as it has with this transfer. It's all credit to the board because when you think of where this club was when I took over and how everyone had to chip into the pot to help us get Marlon King, it shows you that we have come a long, long way in a short space of time.

"I think Nathan will be a great asset to the club, he is extremely talented and a really exciting player for the fans.  He can score all types of goals, with his left foot, right foot, headers, tap-ins, goals from outside the box and he could prove to be really potent for us.

"He fits our culture perfectly, in that's he's a player with plenty to give and a lot more to come. He might have lost his way in recent years but he is absolutely proven at this level. He's a fit lad, he looks well, he's in good shape and he's available for Saturday's game, if selected.

"I want him involved with the lads straight away, because there's not point paying out this much money for a player and not playing him. We've got great competition up front now with Nathan joining, Marlon King, Darius Henderson, Steve Kabba, Will Hoskins, Tamas Priskin and Moses Ashikodi.

"He's hungry to play and I'm eager to see him so I'll really look forward to working with him in training ahead of the weekend, and we'll see what happens from there."

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