GIANLUCA VIALLI scotched two rumours this week. There has been speculation he is going to be recruited by Sampdoria, and another story limked Paolo DiCanio in a swap deal with Tommy Smith.

While Vialli is an admirer of the Italian forward and play-maker, financially it does not add up for a club like Watford.

"I did not see that, but there is no truth in it," Vialli said.

However, the manager is sympathetic with the aims of the consortium planning to take over ailing Sampdoria.

Initially, he admits to being "flabbergasted" by calls from friends in Italy suggsting he was returning to take over as coach at the club.

He feels he will turn a blind eye to this story because he is very fond of his old club, and reasons that if dropping his name in the mix helps build up interest in a rescue package then well and good.

But, he stresses, it is no more than speculation without substance.

"Nobody has called me, and if they do, my reaction would be 'thank you very much, but I am contracted here for three years'," he told me this week.

"I love it here, and I mean I really love going to the training ground and working with the players. I really love the support I get from the board, and I think we are working on and off the pitch to improve this club and get it as successful as possible.

"Obviously, it is a challenge because as soon as I took the job, people say Watford is the team that is going to get promoted. This is where we want to be, but it is a bit more difficult on the field than it is on paper.

"I think, because of the injuries, our progress has been slower, but I think, slowly, slowly, we are getting there.

"Once we get there, I think we will stay there until the end of the season."

October 13, 2001 0:22