Watford FC Chairman & CEO Scott Duxbury shares his thoughts ahead of this afternoon’s Premier League clash with Leeds United...
Late last week, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting a small group of fans to begin a longer-term and wide-ranging process of discussions under the banner of a newly-constituted Fans Committee.
Along with the club’s Finance Director Emiliano Russo and Head of Communications Richard Walker, it was refreshing to be able to speak with supporters in an environment where confidentiality from both sides was assured.
In a change to the Fans Forums and At Your Places of yesteryear, during which it was becoming increasingly difficult to talk openly and in relative confidence, the Fans Committee is designed to re-ignite those really open and frank conversations, with follow-ups planned that involve other members of the club’s senior management team as appropriate to the likely topics for discussion.
The initial cohort of fans was drawn from a wide representation. Our Supporter Liaison team contacted a number of different supporter groups, and they were joined by a mix of those that broadcast and write about club goings-on; including podcasters, bloggers, fanzine editors and YouTubers.
It was an excellent mix across the wide demographic of Watford’s fanbase and allowed for some very robust and open conversation about the club’s current circumstances, the challenges we have had to face on its behalf in the recent years (in particular during the Covid pandemic and relegation) and what the short-term and longer-term future might look like.
The creation of the Fans Committee comes with the distribution of a Memorandum of Understanding, so that all those taking part are clear about the terms of reference for involvement; what can be shared more widely and what should remain ‘within the room’, so to speak.
It is most certainly not a closed shop or invite only. While the club has sought to extend invites to a broad church of the supporter base, everyone can have a voice – whether representing a group or individually – by contacting the Supporter Liaison Team via supporters@watfordfc.com. We’d be delighted to learn of your interest.
A brief summary of attendees and headline areas discussed will be publicised after each meeting, with more detailed notes from any such conversations circulated confidentially among Fans Committee participants.
Although supporter engagement of this kind has been a while in the making during this season, we feel last week’s meeting constituted a really positive first step in better opening up structured and long-lasting lines of two-way communication.
And while our full focus is of course on the current season, if you are thinking about things beyond the end of this campaign then I do hope Season Ticket holders reading in have already seen fit to renew for next year courtesy of the reduced prices offered within our Early Renewal period.
In acknowledging the continuing uncertainties around households’ financial commitments, we believe to provide a discount of at least seven per cent shows our recognition of loyal support across this and many previous seasons.
For now, then, on the back of several weeks without a home fixture, let’s all come together and create something special this afternoon; something everyone can use as a catalyst for a very positive end to the season as we bid to retain Premier League status.
My continued very best wishes, on behalf of everyone here at Watford Football Club, to you and your families.
Scott Duxbury
