PFA chairman Chris Powell has endured a difficult season on the pitch as Watford have fallen back into the Championship after a gallant first attempt at Premiership survival. Aidy Boothroyd is arguably the most positive manager in the top flight and had maintained a strong belief that they could avoid the drop all season. However, it wasn't to be and Powell's end of season highlight was delivering the chairman's speech at the Grosvenor Hotel last weekend at the PFA's 34th Annual Awards Dinner. Givemefootball's Ian Clarkson caught up with chairman Chris for an exclusive chat about what the future holds for the 37-year-old.
Q:THE CAMPAIGN DIDN'T QUITE WORK OUT HOW WATFORD HAD HOPED DID IT?
A:It hasn't worked out how we would have hoped at the start of the season. We did try our hardest each and every week but we just didn't have enough. I think the loss of Marlon King through injury and Ashley Young to Aston villa made it difficult for us. Marlon is a fantastic player and a talisman of the club. That was ten goals minimum away from us when he picked up his injury so it has been a tough ask and it is a shame that it has happened. But I don't think the players; manager or supporters would have had it any other way, as the experience of the Premiership is a positive one. Now it is all about bouncing back and it isn't that easy.
Q:HOWEVER, I AM SURE AIDY BOOTHROYD IS AS POSITIVE AS EVER?
A:Aidy Boothroyd is so positive it is untrue. It is tough as the Premier League is very unforgiving really. You need to keep the ball, you need to score goals – like in any league – but I think when you play against the established Premier League clubs they really show you the way forward. It has been a hard season for us but I am sure we will be able to bounce back.
Q:WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR CHRIS POWELL NEXT YEAR?
A:The plan is I still want to be playing this game that I love so much. I have been playing it for 21 years and I am also chairman of the PFA and enjoying everything connected with the game. We have got to wait and see what happens with me next year as to whether I stay at Watford or move on somewhere else. I will have to talk to the manager about that one but I still want to be playing.
Q:CAN YOU STILL PLAY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL?
A:I have proved to myself this year that I can still play with my fitness and my experience. I think I can lend that to not only Watford, which I have done this year even though, ultimately, it didn't help us in our quest to stay up, or somewhere else, we'll have to see.
Q:WHAT IS HARDER – DELIVERING A SPEECH AT THE PFA AWARDS DINNER OR MARKING CRISTIANO RONALDO?
A:Marking Ronaldo – without a doubt! I have done this speech twice now and got through it. Ronaldo's a fantastic talent and a wonderful player and what I admire about him is after all that happened in the summer he has turned it round with such poise, skill and really expressed himself this season. He was a runaway winner in both categories.
Q:IS HE THE BEST PLAYER YOU HAVE PLAYED AGAINST?
A:Absolutely. I have marked him a couple of times. I say marked him although I don't know whether that's the right word as I was in the vicinity! He keeps you on your toes and all I keep thinking is that there is more to come form him as he I only in his early 20s. I think it’' great that he's playing in the Premiership.
