IT was interesting to hear a Watford fan on one of the phone-in programmes, complaining that the club's directors should be prepared to take some fans onto the board.

The argument was that such a move would enable the board to understand real supporters' concerns.

It is not the first time such a move has been mooted but it overlooks one particular point: there are already Watford supporters on the board.

You only have to glance at the director's box during a controversial incident or a bad miss or a bad foul by the opposition, to realise that Tim Shaw is not only a Watford fan, but quite a volatile one at that.

Elton John, now no longer on the board, has proved his credentials in the past, having watched the Holton era back in the late 1950's and then backed the Hornets financially through to 1988 before seeking to extricate himself from financial responsibility.

Had his partner, David Furnish, been an enthusiast of the game, I reckon we would have seen Elton at the ground far more often during his third term as a Watford director.

Look further down the list of directors and you will note that Graham Simpson who is emerging from the boardroom ranks with greater significance of late, has been watching the Hornets since 1959.

Chris Norton can probably go back just as far as is well known as a long-standing Watford fan.

Now there are some who have adopted the club, such as Charles Lissack who has paid his dues, if not in massive financial contribution, but by his attendance at many away games each season and countless reserve games down the years. He, along with Haig Oundjian, have been one of the most frequent travellers with the Hornets. Lissack's enthusiasm for the club dates back to the days of Jack Petchy and Stuart Timperley, the only director to survive from one era to the next.

Brian Anderson and David Meller (Spurs and Chelsea respectively) have had other allegiances in the past but they are genuine football fans, who know what it is like to be season--ticket holders.

There seems to be this view that once you garner sufficient funds to become a director, you cease being a fan.

In fact, over the years, Watford have been blessed with genuine football fans on the board. Geoff Smith and Muir Stratford were fanatical Watford supporters with years on the terraces and as season ticket holder behind them.

Similarly Jim Harrowell and Doug Broad were steeped in the game. Muff Winwood remained a steadfast supporter of the youth team, reserves and first team, after he left the board.

Going back to the 1952 board crisis, Doug Lindsay was elected onto the board as a representative of the man on the terrace and the move worked reasonably well until he rebelled against Jim Bonser (another long-standing football fan) and found hismelf out in the cold.

Of course, being a football and having enough money to be able to make it to the board, does not mean you make the right decisions.

Had I been on the board a year ago, I would have vetoed the suggestion of Luca Vialli's appointment, suggested my colleagues "get real" and I would jhave asked them if they wanted to do a complete u-turn from the Graham Taylor principles or if they wanted to continue with the philosophy.

Taylor once said: 'It took the board 10 years to get fed up with me back in the 1980's; it took them only five years this time round."

I would have advocated continuing the structure with Luther and Kenny in place and someone like John Ward taking over the helm.

It might not have worked (although I suggest we would have been far better off financially and at least as well-placed in last season's table).

But doubtless people would have been moaning and suggesting they should get the likes of me of the board, becasue I was clining to an old era, and get someone in who really has the club at heart.

It is ever thus. The directors made a cock-up last year, but I don't doubt for a moment the hearts of the majority are in the right place.

August 21, 2002 17:00