Ellington to join Rams on a free (From Times Series)

Ellington to join Rams on a free

9:26am Friday 30th May 2008

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Nathan Ellington, Watford's record £3.25m signing, will be allowed to join Derby County on a free transfer next summer.

Ellington signed for the Rams yesterday on a season-long loan deal, ending his ignominious seven-month spell at Vicarage Road. The Hornets have received a "substational" loan fee as part of the deal but, because the player still has three years of his contract outstanding, Ellington will be allowed to walk away for nothing this time next year.

Watford paid a club record £3.25m for the 26-year-old in August - a fee West Brom boss Tony Mowbray described as "excellent fee for his services" - and saw Ellington's 21 starts yield only four goals.

Ellington has scored at a rate of nearly one in two throughout his career and is hoping a reunion with Paul Jewell, who managed the Duke at Wigan, will herald a return to his best form.

"I'm really excited about his move and particularly looking forward to linking up again with Paul Jewell," said Ellington. "It's no secret that the most successful period of my career was spent playing for him at Wigan Athletic. He got the best out of me then and when I came to see him the other week he told me he intended to get the best out me again and get me scoring goals again.

"I was really impressed with the ambition of both the manager and the Chairman and excited about their plans for this coming season and beyond. I know they are looking to rebuild the team here and I'm looking forward to being part of that and playing my part in bringing success here."

Jewell will be hoping to succeed where Aidy Boothroyd failed and Watford fans will be intrigued to see where Ellington features in next season's Championship goalscoring charts. He is likely to receive a hostile reception when he returns to Vicarage Road with the Rams.

Boothroyd described Ellington as the "best all-round player at the club" but doubts quickly surfaced from inside the camp over the mental and physical state of the player.

The manager seemed reluctant to call upon his services, famously leaving his record signing on the bench as a toothless Watford side crashed to a 1-0 defeat at Preston in January.

Ellington became frustrated by his lack of opportunities but was given his head when Marlon King was sold and responded with three goals in five goals.

He, however, suffered more than most as Watford's style of play became increasingly direct and was often made the scapegoat for some of the more wretched displays, finding himself substituted in 14 out of the 21 matches he started including the 3-0 debacle at Hull in March. He was known to be furious at being replaced against Norwich ealier that month.

When Boothroyd finally bowed to mounting pressure from inside the changing room and opted to change the style of play, fans started to see the best of Ellington, particularly in the second leg of the play-off semi-final.

However, he was substituted again that day and Boothroyd, much to his frustration, has decided to cut his losses on the club's second highest paid player.

Ellington will team up with Jordan Stewart at Pride Park. The left back turned down two separate offers of a new contract and was released by Boothroyd before the play-off semi-final. Stewart made 92 league appearances for the Hornets after signing from Leicester in 2005 for £150,000.

"This is a terrific opportunity for me and I jumped at the chance to join Derby when I knew they were interested," he said. "I believe there was an interest in January but that didn't materialise, but I'm committed to joining now and can't wait to get stuck in when pre-season starts in June.

"I met with Paul Jewell and was instantly struck by his ambitions for this club and the vision he has to take it forward. Likewise the Chairman, Adam Pearson, who told me about the plans for strengthening the squad and making sure we are challenging at the right end of the table come May."

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