WATFORD attempted to sign 30-year-old Coventry City striker Kyle Lightbourne on loan but were pipped by Fulham.

"We made inquiries for Kyle but Gordon Strachan had committed him to a month's loan at Fulham, unless we came up with an amount of money and bought him there and then," said Taylor.

"I did not want to purchase a panic buy such as £500,000 for a 30-year-old. We want it to be right and not just filling in. To spend that sort of money, I wanted to see him at close quarters, as Kevin (Keegan) is now doing."

In the past, with promotion in his sights, Taylor has purchased the likes of Sims and Train with the next division in mind.

"I like to think I have done that with the signing of Alon. I want to be certain that the person I sign can help to build the squad. Hazan is the seventh player we have bought this season.

"Not many clubs in the lower divisions, excluding Fulham who are an exception, have this season bought in seven as potential first-team players.

Recently it leaked out that Taylor was set to secure Wolves' striker Don Goodman on loan. "We have watched players. People see us at games and the things leak out. I know what Don Goodman's salary is, but he was out of the side and Mark McGhee said we could have him for a month if he wasn't needed that Saturday. Well they had a couple of injuries and Mark asked me to wait until after the weekend. Don played for Wolves that Saturday, scored two and has not looked back.

"We are out and about, making our inquiries and looking at players. The fact is there are so many players, who are over 24 this summer with their contracts expired. I know you would have to pay from £200,000 to £800,000 for players available now, but they will be free in the summer," said Taylor. Goodman would also fall into that category.

Watford's new board did make a sum of money available upon their take-over for the purchase of new players, but Taylor has not had any need of that because of the sales of Miller and Phillips.

"If and when we need the kind of money that I think is right and proper, I am sure it will be available," he said.

Taylor also underlined the fact that players whose contracts are up on June 30 can commence negotiating with other clubs, six months ahead of that date.

"The club the player is negotiating with is supposed to inform the club who is paying his wages. That is the theory but it does not always happen," said Taylor.

"I'm not involved in anything like that at the present time although I am quite entitled to, but imagine how unsettling it will be."

Test will come now

top spot has been lost

TAYLOR dealt with the loss of the top spot, stressing that it will be a test for everyone.

"The test will come for the whole club, supporters, reporters, directors, players, staff. Our response has to be seen and after the previous defeats, we went right out there and won the next game," he said.

"We have bought an established international player, in Alon Hazan. His international clearance is through and he will be in the squad tomorrow.

"We are looking to repeat that with a win over Preston."

Taylor would not go into details as to where Hazan will be deployed but it has been obvious in recent weeks that the attack has lost momentum and it would be logical for the Israeli to be used in a forward or forward-thinking position.

Robert Page, having completed his suspension is also back in contention. "I'm lucky the suspension is over quickly because of the replay, but I wish I was playing," said the Watford skipper before Wednesday's kick off.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.