Watford PodJockey Craig Norman analyses what a possible return to the Premiership will mean for Watford Football Club, and more importantly, the Hornets fans.

With the final few months of the season slowly creeping upon us and the phrases "final push" and "run-in" now springing up in both players and managers minds in after-match press conferences, it's time to take stock and see where we're aiming for this season.

Many fans I've spoken to around games in recent weeks have expressed great joy that Watford are there or thereabouts in the promotion hunt and indeed the Championship title race. They do however express disappointment in not consolidating a 9 point lead earlier on in the season, and find the fact that not winning at home for 4 months is unacceptable. They also mention though how finishing in the top two would be a fantastic achievement for the club which would of course mean a return to the holy land, the Premiership.

And that's it, apart from a few opinions on certain players, all the fans want is a return to the Premiership.

Regular listener Jon Reeves wrote the following on our Facebook group wall the other night, and it got me thinking...

"Just picking up on an interesting point you mentioned in the show, how many fans prefer being in the Championship to the Premiership? Personally, the Championship promotion seasons have far outweighed the reality of life in the Prem. Obviously I would love to see the Golden Boys established in the Prem; but based on our two experiences to date I'm not impressed. There is the initial elation and excitement, but come a cold wet January when I'm trudging away from the Vic having lost to ‘Corporate Prawn sandwiches FC' and relegation is a cert, I start to dream of playing Palace or Wolves. Are the fans of Reading, Fulham and Derby really having such a great time? Saying that I can't wait to give it another shot, because there's always that one moment, such as when Mooney scored in front of the Kop that makes it all worth while."

The thing I loved most about Jon's comments was his down-to-earth-realism of what the task in hand is. Yes, if you want to be a successful football club on and off the pitch, the Premiership is where you need to playing on a regular basis. But, the past two experiences of Watford in the Premiership have ended in extreme disappointment. And although Derby fans were ecstatic to reach the Premiership, I'm sure they would exchange places with anyone else as their miserable form, and potential worst campaign ever, puts them in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.

As much as I want Watford to develop as a team and club, the momentum we develop this season needs to be carried into next. Reading proved that a team of strong Championship players can cut it in the Premier League with the right man in charge to organise and motivate. I for one am glad that we are at the cutting end of the Championship, but I know that the real test and hard work will be finishing in the un-glamorous positions of the Premiership.

To listen to the latest Watford FanCast where the team discuss the possibility of a Premiership return and the weekend's draw at Turf Moor, click here.

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