Laurence Bassini and his company Watford FC Limited are on the brink of completing their takeover of the Hornets after increasing their stake in the club’s parent company to 90 per cent.

WFCL now have a 90.95 per cent shareholding in Watford Leisure Plc which means Bassini has a big enough stake to ‘compulsorily acquire’ the remaining shares.

It has been clear since documents were released at the beginning of March that it was WFCL’s intention to purchase the club outright and remove Watford Leisure from the Stock Exchange.

And because Bassini also owns 202,840,000 warrants which can be converted into shares, the takeover always seemed a mere formality once Lord Ashcroft, Graham Simpson and his wife Yianna agreed to sell their shares.

But the speed at which WFCL acquired the required the 90 per cent of shares was increased with the Russo brothers selling their 29.98 per cent stake last week.

At present, it is unclear when the compulsorily acquisition of the remaining shares will take place.