Watford boss Adrian Boothroyd fired a parting shot at Hameur Bouazza by claiming Fulham's new signing was not worth a place in his team.
Bouazza joined the Barclays Premier League club this week in a deal which could rise to £4million after making it clear earlier in the summer that he wanted to leave Vicarage Road.
Bouazza, 22, signed a four-year deal at Fulham - but Boothroyd believes the Algeria international forward has made a mistake in leaving the Hornets.
"Hameur wouldn't necessarily have been a starter," said Boothroyd. "If everyone had been fit, [Tommy] Smith and [Jobi] McAnuff would have started.
"We had a player who I didn't think was anywhere near ready to move. He should have stayed a little bit longer, to grow and develop.
"But the lure of the Premier League, and the money to be made by all concerned, is a heavy burden sometimes.
"I have a lot of respect for Hameur, for where he has come from and what he has done.
"But if a player is so desperate to go, you have to weigh up his effect on the environment.
"To get £4million for him is probably good business, considering I was going to move him on if he hadn't done anything after coming back from Swindon (where Bouazza had a loan spell towards the end of the 2005-06 season)."
Boothroyd's men, relegated from the top flight last season, travel to Wolves on Saturday for a tough opening fixture in the Coca-Cola Championship.
They could be without both Smith and summer signing McAnuff, who picked up slight knocks during training this week.
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