FA CUP victims Watford are aiming to take a leaf out of Wanderers book.

The ambitious Championship club, who once pipped the Whites for promotion to the Premiership, now want to follow the Bolton blueprint.

They see the Reebok success story as an example of what a 'smaller club' can achieve and specifically see Sam Allardyce as a manager whose methods they would love to replicate.

Chairman, Graham Simpson, and manager, Adrian Boothroyd, told shareholders at the club's annual meeting last month that they have a five-year plan in place to put Watford on a Premiership footing, with Wanderers as their inspiration.

"The parellels between ourselves and Bolton Wanderers are quite striking," Simpson said in a personal tribute to the Whites in the programme for last Saturday's cup tie at Vicarage Road.

"We are both relatively small in comparison to more illustrious neighbours; neither club has the resources and infrastructure to attract massive crowds; nor can we compete with most clubs in terms of the amount we can spend on player transfers.

"Yet, nonetheless, we both share a common visison: to be the best - on the field and off it.

"To Bolton's immense credit, they have achieved their goal sooner than we have. And I must applaud the club's determination, tenacity and professionalism in this regard."

Simpson believes that, in Boothroyd, he has one of the best young managers in the game, but can only dream of him emulating what Allardyce has achieved in his six years at the Reebok helm.

"I am a strong believer that a ship is only as good as its captain," he added. "In Sam Allardyce, Bolton have unearthed a genuine crock of gold, a man who is able to produce successful teams no matter what circumstances he faces. It is small wonder that Sam is linked to every major managerial vacancy that arises.

"During Sam's tenure as Bolton manager they have been promoted from the old First Division, consolidated themselves in the Premier League and have qualified for the UEFA Cup. These are significant achievements.

"Anyone listening to Adrian and myself at our recent AGM would have heard us both cite the achievements of Sam and Bolton as goals for Watford over the next five years.

"The good news is that, in Adrian, I believe we have unearthed our very own Sam Allardyce, someone who is capable of turning words into reality.

"Like Sam, Adrian is a motivator of players. Like Sam, Adrian has an inner strength and a real determination to succeed. And like Sam, Adrian has a committed team of people working alongside him who share his vision to be the very best."

Boothroyd, who worked alongside Allardyce last summer when the pair gained the prestigious pro-licence coaching qualifications, is keen to pick the brains of the man who, with a seriously depleted squad, masterminded a 3-0 victory over his Hornets.

"I will have a chat with Sam Allardyce to find out how he has got Bolton to where they are," Boothroyd said in a post-match tribute.

"It's a massive achievement to reach the UEFA Cup in six-and-a-half years. We are nowhere near Premiership standard yet but have come a long way.

"Bolton scored goals when they were in charge of the game, which we didn't manage to do, but the result was fair."