Centerplate have reiterated they remain committed to helping Watford develop Vicarage Road Stadium and in particular the South-West Corner.

The American company became the Hornets’ hospitality and stadium development partner last year after acquiring the catering company Lindley, who already had a deal in place with the club.

The two Centerplate employees who were leading the South-West Corner development have departed the company in recent months. Adam Elliott was Centerplate’s president of UK operations but left his full-time position a couple of weeks ago, although he will remain as a consultant on a temporary basis. And chief financial officer of Lindley, Tim Doubleday, departed in January.

But this week the commercial director at Centerplate’s UK division, Jonathan Davies, told the Watford Observer the two departures would not impact on the partnership with the club.

Davies said: “It’s very much business as usual.

“Centerplate is a key partner with Watford FC and we are committed to investing in the infrastructure of the stadium as part of a long-term partnership with the club. “Plans for the development of the South-West Corner at Vicarage Road are underway and are being progressed with Watford FC’s management team.”

Progress on the South-West Corner has been slow in the last year.

The Hornets handed project management of the development to Centerplate as the club prioritised the East Stand.

But with the new stand expected to be complete before the start of the 2014/15 season, emphasis will be shifted to the South-West Corner.

Watford are allowing Centerplate to lead the project and create plans for the structure and we understand there is a meeting between the two parties in the coming weeks.

We understand there is one year left on the current hospitality deal and that a ten-year extension has been agreed, although that is on the proviso the club are happy with the progress of the South-West Corner.

“Centerplate remain committed to our partnership and the South-West Corner project,” Watford chief executive Scott Duxbury said yesterday (Thursday).

“There has been a key club focus on the East Stand construction during the past months, so the handing over of the project management to our catering partners was the right thing to do.

“We look forward to providing our input as they help shape this development for the future long-term benefit of Watford supporters,” he added.