Watford fans state 'loss of confidence' in ownership

Watford FC fans have published an open letter declaring their "complete loss of confidence" in the owner of the football club following the team's poor start to the season.

The letter, from The 1881 Movement supporter group and signed by spokesman Roy Moore, criticised decision-making and the "revolving door of managers".

Concerns about performances were echoed by Watford MP Matt Turmaine following the team's 5-1 "thrashing" at Cardiff on Tuesday, with the club's honorary life president, Sir Elton John, also expressing his disappointment after a recent 4-0 loss at home to Burnley.

The club said it had requested a meeting with Moore and that it "shared" Sir Elton's "disappointment" with results.

Twenty-seven managers have been in the role since Gino Pozzo took over the club in 2012.

The team currently sits third from bottom in the Championship.

The fans' letter was addressed to owner Pozzo.

It said: "We the undersigned supporters of Watford Football Club... formally declare our complete loss of confidence in your ownership of this club."

The letter acknowledged that "the successful years under your ownership have not been forgotten", but added: "For too long now Watford has been treated as a revolving door of managers, a testing ground for short-term decisions, and a vehicle for constant upheaval.

"The endless cycle of appointments and dismissals has reduced a once-proud club to a source of ridicule."

The letter also claimed stability and continuity had been "sacrificed" and criticised some of the decisions made about long-serving staff at the club who had now left.

The fans said they wanted to see "greater honesty and transparency", especially since "the club is known to be open to offers of takeover or investment".

In a response to a club post on Instagram, Sir Elton also said following the 4-0 defeat to Burnley: "I am very upset and disappointed at the decline over the past few weeks.

"I really feel for the supporters who have to watch this."

Watford are currently on eight points from 10 games and have suffered four straight defeats.

Labour MP Turmaine described the last two matches as a "debacle" and a "thrashing".

"I don't know if the manager can survive this dreadful string of results," he said.

"But there are wider and more deep-seated issues about how the club is run at play here.

"Let's see the outcome of the meeting between Roy Moore and Gino Pozzo. Things have to improve."

A club spokesman said the owner welcomed the chance to "openly discuss" Moore's letter at a meeting on Friday.

They added: "The owner and everyone at the football club shares Sir Elton John's disappointment at the results since we started the season so positively.

"We keenly look forward to the head coach and this newly-assembled team arresting this recent run of results now we have a full squad available for selection."

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