A sense of optimism is beginning to sweep around Vicarage Road following a positive start to 2009, which has seen,among other things, Elton John bcome involved with Watford again.

The club racked up its first win of the year with a 1-0 victory over Scunthorpe United in the FA Cup, but were also blessed with some other good news. After recently walking away from the club in dismay, former chairman and lifelong fan Sir Elton John has given his full support for the Hornets.

Elton resigned from his role as life president in November 2008, insisting that he was disillusioned with the way the club was being run by chairman Graham Simpson. However Simpson and his right hand man Mark Ashton have since left the club, and Elton has been quick to offer his backing to new boss Brendan Rodgers and his squad.

During his visit to the team's London Colney training facility, he gave a speech to the players underlining his commitment to the new regime. Although he is yet to confirm he has rejoined the club in an official capacity, it is believed that Sir Elton has been in contact with manager Rodgers in recent weeks and that he will continue to hold a stake in Watford Football Club.

With the transfer window opening on January 1, 2009, Rodgers signalled his intentions to add depth to his squad by bringing in two new players on loan. The arrival of youngsters Jack Cork and Gavin Hoyte from Chelsea and Arsenal respectively is the first business of what could be a busy month of transfer dealings for the club. Both players will remain at the club until the end of the season, as will Liam Bridcutt who had his loan deal extended.

Both players figured in the Hornets' win over Scunthorpe on January 3, 2009, but it was another loanee that grabbed the winner. It came on 67 minutes as a Adrian Mariappa flick-on found Polish striker Grzegorz Rasiak who lifted the ball past Scunthorpe keeper Joe Murphy.

In other transfer news, Steve Kabba, Moses Ashikodi and Jordan Parkes return to Vicarage Road with their respective loan deals having expired. Lionel Ainsworth has had his loan at Hereford extended until January 24 while Dale Bennett will continue with FA Cup heroes Kettering Town until May 2009.

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