Ex-Watford defender Cathcart joins KV Kortrijk in Jupiler League
Former Watford defender Craig Cathcart has joined Belgian top-flight club KV Kortrijk.
The Northern Ireland international, who left Vicarage Road at the end of last season, has signed a one-year contract with the option of a further year.
The 34-year-old has experience of playing in Belgium from earlier in his career, having joined Royal Antwerp on loan from Manchester United for the 2007/08 season.
Cathcart’s nine years with the Hornets came to an end after making 29 appearances last season, with his last appearance coming in the 2-2 draw at Coventry City in April.
Overall, he made 262 appearances for Waford, including a spell on loan in 2009, and scored eight goals, while helping to keep more than 70 clean sheets.
Talking about his departure, he said: “Thanks to all the people at the club that have helped me along the way, through the highs and lows.
“The club has given me a lot, I’ve made some lifelong friendships and some memories that I’ll never forget.
“All the best for the future to everyone connected with Watford.”
Cathcart’s new club are based in West Flanders and play at the Guldensporenstadion, named after the Battle of the Golden Spurs which took place in Kortrijk in 1302.
The club will be hoping Cathcart’s signing helps tighten up a defence which has shipped 17 goals in its opening six games, leaving the club bottom of the Jupiler League table with only one point on the board so far.
“There’s no one like him” – Bolton fan pundit reacts to big Dion Charles boost amid Stoke, Watford interest
FLW’s Bolton fan pundit gives his thoughts on Dion Charles remaining with the club beyond the summer transfer deadline
HIGHLIGHTS
- Bolton Wanderers managed to keep hold of Dion Charles despite transfer interest, highlighting his importance to the team’s promotion ambitions.
- Charles has already scored four goals in six league games this season and his work ethic and application make him irreplaceable.
- Bolton’s strong start to the season shows they have the capacity to compete for promotion, and having Charles gives them an edge over their rivals.
Bolton Wanderers managed to stave off transfer interest in Dion Charles to keep the player beyond the close of the window.
The 27-year-old is a key figure for the Whites in their ambition to gain promotion back to the Championship.
The forward has already scored four goals from the team’s first six league games this season, with Ian Evatt’s side second in the League One table.
It was reported during the summer that Watford and Stoke City were both eyeing a potential move for Charles.
But a new contract running until the summer of 2026 was signed that has put an end to any speculation surrounding his future.
How important is Dion Charles to Bolton Wanderers?
FLW’s Bolton Wanderers fan pundit Oliver Jacques has expressed his delight at the club holding onto the forward.
He has claimed that no amount of money would have made up for the impact his departure would have had on the team.
“Charles staying was massive for us really,” Jacques told Football League World.
“There’s certainly no player at the club like him in terms of his work ethic, his application, buying into everything that Evatt’s asked of him basically.
“There’s no one like him in his position.
“I don’t think there’s anybody like him out there that we could replace [him with], to the point where I wouldn’t have accepted any fee for him to be honest.
“I think he is too valuable for us, and I think if we’re genuinely serious about promotion this season then that’s the kind of player we need to be holding onto and turning down the big offers from bigger clubs.”
Bolton have made a really positive start to the new season, earning 13 points from their opening six fixtures.
Four wins, one draw and one loss has the team level on points with Exeter City, Stevenage and Port Vale to start the campaign.
Charles could be key to the club fighting for promotion to the second tier over the next several months.
The striker has been with Bolton for a couple of seasons, previously contributing 24 goals from 65 appearances in the league for the side.
Next up for Evatt’s squad is a clash away to the recently relegated Reading on 16 September.
Can Bolton Wanderers compete for promotion this season?
Bolton’s early form this season has shown that they have the capacity to be one of the best teams in the division on their day.
However, the real test will be sustaining that level of form over a whole 46-game campaign.
The team came close last year, earning a play-off place, but finding that extra gear to get into the top two isn’t easy.
But having someone of Charles’ goal scoring talent should give the club an edge over their rivals, which only highlights how important it was that they held onto him over the summer despite Championship interest.
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