The allegations which surfaced about Graham Taylor this week will have undoubtedly shocked the local community.

Few are as revered in these parts as the former Watford boss, widely regarded as the team’s greatest ever gaffer. As such, accusations that he ignored cries for help from a boy being sexually abused will have touched a particularly exposed nerve with fans.

Following our reportage of the allegations, the Observer was heavily criticised, given the paper’s role within the town, its close ties to the football club, and the fact that Graham has not long passed away.

Accusations of insensitivity and a quickness to castigate the local hero were bandied about, with some readers even calling for reporters to be banned from the Vicarage Road ground in response to their crimes.

These accusations of a lack of respect however could not be further from the truth.

Anyone you speak to in the office here - whether a lifelong Watford resident or not, whether having met Graham in person or not – hold him in such a high regard simply because of the man he always showed himself to be: principled, affable, ever ready to give up his time for others.  

Whatever your opinion of the man himself though, you cannot deny that it is vitally important to report on the issue of sexual abuse. A previous reluctance to do so has led to a number of scandals, many involving well-known public figures, and caused unfathomable harm to victims and their families.

It is impossible to say honestly what you or I would have done had we been in Graham’s position when approached by that young lad all those years ago, if indeed that was the case, and it is a true shame we cannot get both sides of the story.

Times were different back then, as were attitudes, and it could be argued that he was just trying to protect the boy from further harm.

However we no longer live in an age where sexual abuse can be either downplayed or ignored. The victims deserve more than that. Thankfully our society is slowly getting to the point where people feel they can speak out about abuse without being scoffed at or ostracised.  

While such allegations may be particularly tough to take for the Watford faithful, and while it is important to stress that at this stage these are merely allegations, it is the duty of the press to help bring such unspeakable crimes to light.