Sir Elton John is involved in Watford’s recruitment process on a “daily basis” and often gives recommendations about which players they should buy, chairman Scott Duxbery has said.
The multi-platinum selling singer is Watford’s honorary life president and was chairman during their rise from the old Fourth Division to the top flight during the 1970s and early 80s.
The 71-year-old’s involvement with the day-to-day running of Watford effectively ended when he ceased to be owner and chairman in 2002, but that hasn’t stopped him being involved in the club’s transfer business.
“He is in constant communication, both with opinions of how the team has played and opinions on players, who we should be signing,” Duxbery told talkSPORT. “He watches everything and he has a real knowledge of players and an absolute passion for the football club — it’s not superficial. I will probably hear from him on a daily basis on one matter or another.
“He recommends players that I have not heard of and I say I will pass it to my scouting department. They come back and say: ‘Yeah, yeah, really good player, let’s look at this.’ He absolutely has an encyclopedic knowledge of the lower-division players, it is incredible.”
Since his return as honorary life president, Watford have opened a Sir Elton John Stand at their Vicarage Road stadium.
Watford are seventh in the Premier League and enjoying an impressive season under manager Javi Gracia.
They thrashed Cardiff 5-1 on Friday in a win which featured a hat trick from Gerard Deulofeu, who signed on a permanent transfer from Barcelona in the summer.