Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd has expressed his disappointment in
Fulham striker Collins John after the player turned down a move to
Vicarage Road.
The 21-year-old has struggled to hold down a place in the Fulham
squad but turned down the chance to play regular football with the
Hornets.
Boothroyd revealed his frustration at the decision, saying John has
missed out on the chance to improve as a player.
"He doesn't want to come," Boothroyd told The Times Online. "I am
not knocking him, but I believe that's really short-term
thinking.
"He could play every week here, giving himself an opportunity, the
same way that Ashley Young has done and then got his £10million
move to Aston Villa.
"That is what we are offering. The chance to learn, to develop. But
it wasn't for him."
Boothroyd was keen to name a number of his current squad as
examples of those who have benefited from a move to Vicarage
Road.
"Jay DeMerit was backpacking around Europe trying to find a club a
couple of years ago, now he's scoring against Blackburn Rovers," he
said.
"Who would touch Marlon King? And there's Gavin Mahon, who was
chucked out of Wolves as a kid and got relegated into the
Conference with Hereford. Now he's playing in the
Premiership.
"There is a band of people and we are all in this together. We are
trying to build an aeroplane in the sky because we have to get
points while building a club at the same time."