Watford supporter committee members raise concerns

The club had hoped the newly-formed committee would "create a more structured and formal consultation process, to continue and expand upon the relationships the club already holds with its diverse range of representative supporter groups."

However, issues around confidentiality have proved unpopular with some supporters, with only broad headlines from the topics discussed to be confirmed via the club website, while detailed notes will be circulated among those who are part of the committee.

Other supporters are invited to apply to take part should they wish to, but it is still ultimately up to the club to decide whether or not they are invited to participate.

The first meeting, of at least a promised three per season, took place recently with the latest financial figures understood to have been one of the subjects discussed. Representatives of 14 of the selected groups were in attendance.

However, the broad headlines are yet to have been published online.

One of those groups present at the meeting, Women of Watford FC (Wow) released a statement on Monday afternoon expressing "disappointment" with the club for the way they believe they have handled "what had otherwise been a positive experience".

Kate Lewers, one of the group's founding members wrote: "I'm really disappointed with how it's been handled by the club. Writing a statement about it but not publishing any minutes has thrown the attendees under a bus after what I believe had otherwise been a positive experience.

"I am very happy the club have said at the end of their statement there's an open call to those who would like to attend the next ones. I'd really like to encourage you to do so, not least because there were only two women there representing the fans and we need some more diversity around the table.

"This is something [we] have challenged with the club expecting a full an [sic] thorough response and I really hope this is just a terrible blip in foresight as I think done right (!) this idea has potential."

Another of the groups involved with the committee, Watford FC Jewish Supporters, also said they had contacted the club urging them to publish the minutes from the first meeting.

They wrote on Twitter: "The Jewish Hornets were invited to the fans committee and attended in good faith like all the other groups and individuals. We have contacted the club to ask for the promised minutes to be shared publicly. We understand there will be further communication from the club.

"We have also gone back with some proposals which we believe will make this process more transparent and open for ALL fans."

Later on Monday evening a further fan group, The Hornets Nest, added their voice to the growing list of supporters unhappy with the way they see the committee being handled and said they had also contacted the club to express that.

"Today myself and other members of the #WatfordFC Fans' Committee contacted the club directly to make them aware of our disappointment at how the club have handled recent proceedings," they wrote on Twitter.

"Like all members, we attended in good faith, respecting the request for confidentiality until the minutes had been made public, at which point we could then discuss that information with our various supporter groWe were informed that the discussions would be made public 7-10 days after the meeting. That deadline has now passed and this is unacceptable and unfair on the wider fanbase. We feel like we have been put in a difficult position through no fault of our own.

"We have requested further information as to when these discussions will be made public to the wider fanbase. We are extremely disappointed and understand and share the frustrations of our fellow Hornets supporters."

Elsewhere, fan YouTube channel WD18, who also had representatives in attendance at the first meeting, shared the Hornets Nest's statement via their Twitter account, saying that they "fully supported" the comments.

The club has been approached for comment.