Play-off Final Paper View

Watford worthy of time at the top

ADRIAN BOOTHROYD USED TO HAND out the bibs at Elland Road and is barely out of rusks in terms of managerial experience, but he came of age yesterday as his side outwitted, outfought and ultimately ousted Leeds United as a middling side who have come a long way but are still several years short of the team they want to be.

If ever a promotion was a reflection of its manager then it was this one. In 14 months, Boothroyd has transformed Watford from a side flirting salaciously with relegation to one that will relish their billing as Barclays Premiership whipping boys next season. Wigan Athletic will be their template, Boothroyd their totem. “I know we will be favourites, but we won't go down,” he said. “If I start thinking that then it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. We won't go down.” The Times

Youth policy pays off for promoted Watford

As they contemplate their relegation from the Football League, the directors of Oxford United might like to ask which one of them turned down Aidy Boothroyd's application to become their manager on the grounds he had "insufficient experience".

This morning, as Watford wonder what to do with the estimated £30 million this victory brought them, he ought to make contact with the Decca executive who informed the Beatles that guitar groups were passé.

The young Michael Heseltine famously wrote down his career path on the back of an envelope, which stated: "Millionaire, Cabinet minister, Prime Minister".

Boothroyd has done something similar, saying his ambition was to manage in the Championship, the Premiership and internationally and to excel at all three. Unlike Heseltine, he may not miss out on his ultimate goal.

This morning Boothroyd, who finds himself the Premiership's newest and youngest manager, said he was "born ready" when taking over from the weather-beaten Ray Lewington at Vicarage Road.

Yesterday, as the final whistle blew under the closed roof of an altogether grander arena, his triumph was complete. Daily Telegraph

Hornets pull off £40m sting

Before the season began Adrian Boothroyd was asked by the Watford board where he saw himself come this month. "On an open-top bus," came his reply. Well, that heady moment has arrived. One of the most extraordinary, unexpected, unpredicted promotions in recent memory was completed here yesterday when Watford defeated Leeds United to arrive in the Premiership for the first time since 1999. A £40m holy grail, a promised land of wild riches and even wilder hopes and dreams, has been reached. It is richly deserved too. The Hornets are buzzing.

The scale of Boothroyd's achievement is hard to over-estimate. This is a club who finished just two points above relegation last season, who cleared out much of their squad and who had a manager about whom most people asked, "Adrian who?" Now they know.

Boothroyd has just completed his first season in charge. Anywhere. He is no cheeky chappy and - perhaps - no one-term wonder. Fans joke that the Bradford-born manager is the northern Mourinho. Why not? Even Jose would be impressed by this one and Boothroyd, still only 35, shows the same ruthless singularity as the Special One. They will, amazingly, meet soon enough. The Independent

Brave Boothroyd scripts Watford fairytale

Kevin Blackwell could never have imagined the implications of his coach Adrian Boothroyd joining Watford last year. After little more than 14 months in charge the man whose appointment was greeted by supporters at Vicarage Road with concern, bewilderment and general unease yesterday etched his name in the club's history and confirmed his status as one of the brightest young managers in English football when he secured promotion to the Premiership at the expense of his former mentor.

It is a remarkable story and one that comes laced with an estimated £35m financial windfall, the reward for a place in the top flight through television income, merchandise sales, ticket revenues and, in the event of relegation, parachute payments. Watford will be among the favourites to be recipients of the latter come this time next year, though those that underestimate Boothroyd do so at their peril. On this evidence there is no ceiling to his managerial capabilities which inspired a Watford side full of motivation, desire and passion to a resounding victory. The Guardian