Watford FC will wait until the official publication of an addendum to the Independent Review into Child Sexual Abuse in Football 1970-2005 by Clive Sheldon before commenting on aspects that relate to them.

A story this morning suggests that the club have made out-of-court payments to five former players who were allegedly abused by the Hornets’ ex-physio Phil Edwards.

Edwards was found dead at home in 2019, shortly after being arrested on suspicion of sexual activity with a child at his private physiotherapy clinic in Watford.

The story today claims that Watford have made payments of around £400,000 in court costs and compensation to the five players.

The original Sheldon report was published in March 2021 and highlighted that Watford were continuing an ongoing investigation in matters relating to them, adding that Sheldon would be “evaluating the adequacy of that investigation”.

The FA are expected to publish this addendum in due course, and the Watford Observer understands that it’s Watford FC’s intention to comment publicly once this has happened.

The Sheldon report released in 2021 said that Watford had conducted their investigations diligently up to that point.

However he also highlighted, while giving the club further time, the objectives of the club’s investigation which had commenced in October 2019. They were:

  • Ensure a thorough and impartial investigation
  • Understand the extent of any criminal behaviour by Edwards
  • Identify whether individuals with positions of responsibility knew of the allegations
  • Ascertain the response by individuals with positions of responsibility and whether they failed to report onwards and/or failed to respond properly to allegations or concerns made during the period of abuse or subsequently