THE decision to sack Nigel Gibbs has caused outrage among Watford fans.

Gibbs' 24-year association with the club ended last Friday when manager Adrian Boothroyd opted to go with a coaching team of three - Boothroyd, assistant boss Keith Burkinshaw and coach David Hockaday - rather than four.

But supporters have expressed their anger at the move in letters received by the Watford Observer this week (Friday July 8).

And fans were also incensed at the way the news was broken, through the club's official website and weekly e-mail, under the headline "Hornets restructure coaching team".

Originally, the story had been posted under a headline that clearly informed fans that Gibbs had been sacked but this was swiftly changed.

The timing of the decision has also been slammed - with almost every club having already returned for pre-season training, Gibbs, who is also a former reserve team manager and first team coach, could struggle to find another club.

The Watford Observer had received no official word of Gibbs' impending sacking, despite sports editor Anthony Matthews making regular calls to the club, but receiving no reply.

Gibbs, who made his debut under Graham Taylor in 1983, cannot comment because he is bound by a confidentiality agreement.

Likewise, Watford officials cannot comment at length on the dismissal until reaching a pay-off settlement with Gibbs.

Chief executive Mark Ashton declined to make any comment to the Watford Observer or any other media outlet regarding Gibbs' sacking or the way in which the matter had been handled, because of these legal constrictions.

But the club have also received a number of letters and e-mails regarding the sacking and intend to respond to each one when chairman Graham Simpson returns from holiday.

Manager Adrian Boothroyd did elaborate on the decision to sack Gibbs. And Boothroyd's thoughts, as well as the full story, is in this week's Watford Observer.