Elton John quits Watford

With Watford severely affected by the ITV Digital crisis, Sir Elton has said the club need a chairman who can devote all his time to them.

"With the huge changes taking place in football, it is obviously necessary for the board to be led by a chairman who will be able to devote more time to the club than I have been able," Sir Elton told the club's official website.

"The directors will now commence their search for a successor and I am sure that they will find the right person who will be able to devote time and energy to leading the club through these difficult times."

Watford's chief executive Tim Shaw paid tribute to the work Sir Elton had done for the club.

"Without his vision, energy and investment, the club would never have made the progress that it has over the last 25 years."

Sir Elton has also resigned as chairman and director of Watford Leisure PLC.

Watford were promoted to the top flight twice and reached the FA Cup final during the time John was chairman.

The superstar started supporting the Hornets when he was seven and fulfilled a dream by becoming chairman of the then Fourth Division outfit in 1976.