Elton John, a lifelong supporter of Watford FC, has expressed his disappointment and upset with the club's recent decline in form. Following their 4-0 home loss to 22nd-placed Burnley, John commented on the club's Instagram post, stating that he feels for the supporters who have to watch the team's current performance. Watford currently sits 20th in the Championship table, having lost three straight league games and five of their past six.
Watford appointed Alessio Dionisi as their manager in June on a two-year contract. However, the team has struggled to find consistency, with their recent performances being a far cry from their earlier successes. The club had a challenging start to the season but negotiated it well, beating Southampton at Vicarage Road and drawing away at Wrexham and at home to West Ham. Since then, they have picked up points in just one of their subsequent fixtures, beating Preston 2-1 at home last month.
The 4-0 loss to Burnley was particularly disheartening, with Watford being 3-0 down inside 25 minutes. Burnley had previously won one league match in 2026, against Crystal Palace in the Premier League in February, and had not won an away fixture in almost a year. Elton John, who has had two spells as the owner of Watford, initially overseeing their rise from the fourth tier to a second-placed finish in Division One and European football under Graham Taylor in the 1970s and 1980s.
John released a book, Watford Forever, in 2024, detailing his relationship with the club. He has a stand named after him at Vicarage Road and relinquished control of his boyhood side for a second time in 2002. Former Watford captain Troy Deeney also spoke of his fears for the club, stating that "the writing is on the wall and has been for months." Deeney listed "removing talent," "allowing for poor standards," and "a lack of accountability" among the issues with the club.
Chairman Scott Duxbury addressed the club's current situation on an official club podcast, stating that they have a lot of players who people on the outside will say shouldn't be there. He emphasized that this has to be a season where they achieve their potential and have a successful season. Duxbury expressed his frustration with seasons where the team says they have a great team on paper but fades away.
The Hertfordshire side has not finished higher than 11th since relegation from the Premier League in 2022. Elton John's comments reflect the concerns of many fans and former players, who are worried about the club's trajectory. As a former owner and lifelong supporter, John's sentiments carry significant weight, highlighting the need for improvement.
The club will look to turn their season around and achieve success, but it will require a significant turnaround in their current form. With the Championship table being highly competitive, Watford will need to regroup and find a way to start winning games consistently. The team's struggles have sparked concern among fans, former players, and the club's hierarchy.
Key points
- Elton John expresses disappointment with Watford's current form after their 4-0 loss to Burnley.
- Watford appointed Alessio Dionisi as their manager in June but has struggled to find consistency.
- The club's current situation has sparked concern among fans, former players, and the club's hierarchy.
