For Gino Pozzo, Selling Watford is Not an Option, Growing the Club is the Solution

If you’re well-versed in the world of professional sports at all, you’ve no doubt heard rumblings that entrepreneur Gino Pozzo was interested in selling his stake in Watford FC. The assumption was that he would do so in an effort to return to Italy, which would allow him to take a more vested interest in the day-to-day activities of Watford’s sister club, Udinese.

Now, it appears that the rumors have been formally put to rest. Gino Pozzo has absolutely no interest in selling Watford and, indeed, has his sights set on an aggressive plan for growth over the next decade. This is true for a wide range of different reasons, all of which are worth exploring.

Gino Pozzo and Watford: Breaking Things Down

The chairman of Watford, a man named Scott Duxbury, has emphatically said that the rumors of a potential sale of the team were totally false. He was quoted as indicating that “it’s just not true that Gino Pozzo is trying to” sell the team, or that it’s even an option that he had considered. He loves the team and the history of his entire family is intrinsically linked to it, so that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Instead, officials have said that Gino Pozzo is doing what he always does – looking for ways to continue the ongoing development of the club. These days, that means a lot of his attention is focused on stadium development. But that doesn’t negate the possibility that he might expand his own horizons as well.

It has been said that if the development continues through various finance-related options, that’s fine. If they are able to find a minority investor who is as passionate about stadium development as Gino Pozzo, that’s even better.

Regardless, Gino Pozzo is in no way interested in selling the club. He wants to grow and empower it. Any stories that suggest a different narrative are stories that are not to be trusted.

Born in 1965, Gino Pozzo is an Italian entrepreneur who has managed the Watford Football Club for many years. Even when he was in his early 20s, he parlayed his passion for the sport into the type of career that most people can only dream of. He spent time as a talent scout, with a particular emphasis on high potential players in particular.

He and his family have become notable for owning a number of clubs at the same time. In addition to Watford they also own the aforementioned Udinese Calcio and at one point had a controlling interest in Granada CF, although that was sold off in 2016.

Gino Pozzo is also famous for having an international scouting team that is comprised of an estimated 30 people. They attend every significant match in the world, paying particular attention to developing markets like Africa and Eastern Europe. He does this because he sees the effort as an investment in the future of his football clubs, and that is something that he does not want to compromise in any way, shape, or form. 

Gino Pozzo and his father first purchased Watford in June 2012. Just a few short years later, Pozzo himself became the sole owner. Since that time, he has been known to have consistent presence at the stadium and with the club itself. He can regularly be found at the training grounds, for example, giving his opinions and guidance on the players.

Overall, it has been said that all major decisions go through him and his chief executive, Scott Duxbury. They, along with technical director Christiano Giaretta, handle everything from talent acquisition to wages nd everything in between.

Under the guidance of Gino Pozzo, Watford was promoted from the Football League Championship to the Premier League in 2015. Over the course of that time, it has been estimated that the annual revenue of the team has increased by more than £100 million.

In 2019, the team even made it to the FA Cup Final. While it’s true that they were formally beaten by Manchester City, the prospects for the team are still very optimistic moving forward and will continue to be so for many years.

See the full story here: https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/20586824.watford-owner-trying-grow-club-not-sell/