Print tycoon Maxwell's plan for Watford FC

Reliable sources confirm that Mr Maxwell has already made inquiries about the development potential of the present ground which will become hot property if the proposed West Watford Relief Road gets the go-ahead.

He is also believed to be testing the water for a move to one of three possible stadium sites outside the borough of Watford.

They are:

A parcel of land at Hunton Bridge between Leavesden Aerodrome and Kings Langley;

Fortunes Farm, Abbots Langley, close to the proposed Golden Triangle shopping complex;

Land in the South Oxhey area on the borders of Harrow and Hertfordshire – possibly South Oxhey playing fields.

News that Mr Maxwell is interested in buying the ground has been confirmed by Watford Labour councillor amd long-term Watford FC fan Mike Jackson.

He said he had just learned of Mr Maxwell’s intentions and claimed the plan showed his much-publicised interest in taking over the club was purely a speculative business venture.

“It has long been my opinion that Mr Maxwell’s interest in Watford FC had little to do with the interests of football.

“Given his record to date, I have some foreboding about his plans for the football club and the rest of the town,” he warned.

The football club’s architects – Newcastle-based Faulkner, Brown and Hendy – have been linked with the ambitious plans although officials at the club deny any knowledge of Mr Maxwell’s proposals.

Bosses at the local brewery firm Benskins, which owns the football club land, deny any approach from Mr Maxwell.

“No one has approached us officially and I can only assume he is testing the water,” said Benskins marketing and development director Mr Martin Davies.

“It is not a surprise to do it in that way and maybe a formal package will be presented to us in two or three weeks.

“We would have to weigh everything up very carefully because we have pubs around the ground that do very well because of the football.”