Former Dundee star Craig Forsyth has spoken of his shock when Malky Mackay left Watford just 24 hours after persuading him to join the English Championship side.
The 22-year-old feared his dream move had hit the rocks as Mackay jumped ship for Cardiff City.
However, following assurances from Watford head of football Ross Wilson, Forsyth agreed a three-year deal.
He is now looking forward to working with new Hornets manager Sean Dyche, who was appointed on Tuesday and a possible future reunion with his former Dundee pal Leigh Griffiths, now at Wolves.
Forsyth said, “Signing with Watford is a weight off my mind as it has been going on for a while.
“I thought at one point it was not going to happen so I can relax now before starting my new career at the club.”
He added, “Initially, moving to Watford was something I did not really have to think too long about.
“I went down there last week with my agent and I was really impressed by the set-up at the club and the training facilities.
“Malky Mackay was also very persuasive and really sold the club to me.
“There were no guarantees about playing in the first team or anything, but the club are all about giving young players a chance.”Concerns over dealForsyth said, “As I came back up the road, I was 95% certain I would be joining Watford-then of course, the next day Malky left for Cardiff.
“I really feared the deal would fall through but Ross Wilson assured me that Watford still wanted me.
“It will be a massive step up for me but you have to believe in yourself.
“I now intend to work really hard in pre-season training to hit the ground running at Watford and hopefully prove myself worthy of playing in the first-team.”
He added, “I texted my wee pal Leigh Griffiths to tell him my news.
“It is incredible to think that we could eventually end up playing against one another, hopefully with Watford and Wolves both in the Premiership.”
Forsyth admitted that, having been with the Dark Blues since he was a boy, leaving was a wrench.
Dens boss Barry Smith tried to persuade him to stay for another season but Forsyth was determined to put his foot on the next rung of the career ladder.
But moving to London was not a decision he took lightly and he listened to words of wisdom from his agent Blair Morgan, as well as his father Stewart, a former Dundee player himself.A capital adventureForsyth said, “My agent kept me right but my parents had the major say in helping me come to a decision.
“There were other clubs interested in me, including St Johnstone.
“Their manager, Derek McInnes, had made inquiries with my agent before the end of the season but I was not ready then to think about my future.”
He added, “I will now be moving to London, which will be a big challenge for me but Watford is a quieter area on the outskirts of the city away from the bright lights which was a factor as well.
“Of course, leaving Dundee was still a big wrench as it is the only club I have known.
“Barry had a chat with me to attempt to persuade me to stay.
“He tried his hardest to keep me but said the club understood my situation and would not stand in my way.”
Forsyth, of course, was one of the Dundee heroes last season who defied a 25-point penalty for the club entering administration to defy the odds and escape relegation to division two.
“Fozzy” believes the club can use that as a springboard for promotion.
He said, “I will never forget my time at the club, especially the last year.
“We forged an unbelievable team spirit in incredibly difficult circumstances that I would not wish on anyone.”
He added, “I told the boys on Tuesday that I was leaving and it felt really strange saying it.
“But they wished me all the best and I now hope that the lads can finally take Dundee back to where they belong in the SPL next season.”