Watford expect to know whether Saracens will be staying at Vicarage Road by September 3 despite the rugby club's chief executive suggesting a decision may not be made until the following month.

Sarries chief executive Edward Griffiths was previously quoted as saying a final decision on the club's long-term future may not be made until October but the Hornets expect a decision in two weeks time.

Watford activated a break clause in the two clubs' agreement at the end of May, which meant that the Men in Black would leave the ground at the end of this season unless a new lease was agreed.

The Hornets agreed to Sarries' request for another three months to consider their options at the time and Watford's chief executive is expecting to find out whether the rugby club are staying after Saracens' board meeting on Friday, September 3.

"We have given them a couple of proposals around a future lease and their response will be back to us by September 3," Julian Winter said.

"I think we have to know where we are. That is what we have agreed. We need some certainty with Saracens so we can crack on and plan with or without them."

Both parties could have activated the break clause this summer but had neither done so before June 1 this year, then Saracens could have remained at the stadium until 2017 on the same agreement, which Watford described as "not an option they would like to consider".

Former Hornets chairman Andy Wilson made it clear Saracens would need to increase the 'rent' they pay Watford more than 18 months ago.

The rugby club currently pay £489,000 a year, but that lease was agreed when Watford were desperate for Sarries to stay.

"It is not £500,000 profit," Winter replied when asked if Watford could manage without the money from Saracens.

"In profit terms it is nowhere near £500,000. There would be an impact on the bottom line if they leave but we are already preparing contingency plans around that happening, we are not just continuing without being prepared for it."

Watford have made two separate proposals to Saracens and the development of the South West corner of Vicarage Road and the East Stand are part of the discussions.

Griffiths said: "The proposal is for Watford and Saracens to jointly develop the ground and I think this is a reasonable proposal. Watford Football Club have been very clear and open in all our discussions."

Griffiths has been openly critical of Vicarage Road in the past, joking at a recent fans forum that the East Stand would "win any competition for the most ugly sports structure anywhere in the world".

The South African confirmed Saracens would be keen to improve the ground should they stay but said the club have "made no secret" of the fact they are currently considering five different options, with staying in Watford one of the possibilities.

Griffiths has stated in the past that Saracens would need to attract average attendances of around 15,000 each game to break even.

Last season Sarries' average attendance was around 24,000 due to the club's four matches at Wembley Stadium, but they rarely managed to attract more than 9,000 to home games.

"There is no guarantee that you can get 15,000 fans anywhere else either," Griffiths said when asked if the poor attendances were a major factor.

"An average crowd of 15,000 would lead us towards a commercially viable state so that's what we're aiming for.

"Last year in the Premiership our average crowd was actually 24,000 but that was based on the matches at Wembley. Now whether the combination of Wembley and a fuller stadium can provide the answer for what we're looking for is something we are looking at."

Saracens have been linked with a move to Queens Park Rangers' Loftus Road, Fulham's Craven Cottage and the Olympic Stadium in Stratford in the past but Grffiths refused to discuss any of the other five possibilities.

There are Premier Rugby regulations relating to having priority over fixtures should a club move grounds, but Griffiths confirmed there is flexibility and it wouldn't be an issue should Saracens leave.