Don Cowie was able to leave Watford on a free transfer because of an “ambiguity” in his contract, the Hornets’ new head of football business has confirmed.

Sources at the club told the Watford Observer at the beginning of the year that Cowie was not out of contract this summer because he had a clause in his deal that entitled the Hornets to activate another year.

However, representatives for Cowie disagreed with Watford over the interpretation of the clause.

Cowie was then offered a new contract by Watford, which we understand would have made him one of the highest paid players at the club, but last week the long-running saga came to a head as fans were left shocked when Cowie joined Malky Mackay’s Cardiff City on a free transfer.

Watford’s head of football business Ross Wilson spoke exclusively to the Watford Observer this week as he wanted to “provide some clarity and transparency” for Hornets fans.

Wilson explained: “Before I arrived at the club I was told there was a potential issue with Don’s contract as there was ambiguity over the clause, but the club were in discussions with Don's representatives with regards to extending the player’s contract, not withstanding the ambiguity of the clause.

“Once I arrived at the club and I looked at the contract, I very quickly made my mind up that there was no longer a potential issue, there was a definite issue with the ambiguity regarding the option clause.

“The discussions with the player’s representatives had been well under way before I arrived here. I then took over those negotiations and made what I would describe as an excellent offer to Don’s representative to extend his time with us but unfortunately Don and his representative decided to pursue another option which they had open to them from Cardiff City.”

Wilson refused to place any blame at the feet of Cowie’s agent as “he has to do his best for Don and that is what he has done”.

Cowie, who joined from Inverness Caledonian Thistle for around £50,000 in February 2009, admits he did not expect to leave Watford when the issue with the option clause first came up.

“I think if someone had said to me six months ago that I’d be leaving like this, I wouldn’t really have believed them,” Cowie told Watford’s site.

“I was really settled in Watford – but once Malky left and it came to the end of June, I thought there would be a chance for me to perhaps test myself at a club with bigger resources.

“It’s a shame Watford have no transfer fee for me, but they’ve had two-and-a-half years of me giving what I think was everything in every game I played, and I didn’t cost much from Inverness so I hope that adds up to some sort of value over that time.

Hopefully the fans will understand that, as I’d like to come back on good terms this season.”

Cowie became the fifth Watford member of staff to join Mackay at Cardiff, something which clearly frustrated Hornets chairman Graham Taylor.

“Our manager [Mackay] made a decision to leave this football club,” said Taylor when Cowie’s move was confirmed.

“Speaking on behalf of the owner and the board of Watford FC, we are both surprised and disappointed to learn of Cardiff City’s continued advances for this football club’s personnel.

“Don Cowie becomes the fifth person to have joined Cardiff City from Watford this summer – when we add Malky to three members of staff and now a very talented player.

“Let’s hope it stops here.”

Cowie’s departure was a shock to most Hornets’ fans and the club have lost out on a significant transfer fee, but the midfielder had nothing but positive things to say about Watford and the appointment of Sean Dyche.

He said: “Watford’s not a good place for young players to be, it’s a great place, make no mistake about that. And I can only see that work continuing under Sean Dyche.

“I’m so pleased he got the job; the Watford players have a huge amount of respect for him and he’s a very honest and decent man who’ll bring his own slant on doing things to the table, I’m sure.”

“One thing I do know for certain, though, is that I would never have been in a position to make the most of this move if it wasn’t for my time there “I’ll be forever grateful to Watford and everyone connected with the place.”