Watford are still hopeful the new East Stand at Vicarage Road will be open in time for the start of next season.

The Watford Observer contacted the Hornets yesterday (Thursday) after being told by a source outside of the club that the new structure may not be open until November after further delays.

We asked the Championship club to confirm if the stand would not be ready for the start of the 2014/15 campaign and if it was unlikely to be open before November.

Chief executive Scott Duxbury said: “The club’s goal is and always has been to have The Watford FC Community Stand fully open for the start of the new season.

“Like any large-scale multi-million pound construction project, progress is always subject to change due to a number of factors and complexities which are encountered during works.

“All parties are working tirelessly together to achieve our shared goal, although ultimately there are no deadlines set in terms of wanting to see a fully-completed, fully functional stand – something everyone at Watford has hoped for over a considerable number of years.”

Watford had initially proposed to open part of the stand earlier this season but set-backs and the summer break meant the club’s revised plan was to open it fully in August.

Yesterday, Duxbury said: “If we’re not able to open the whole stand at the first opportunity, then we would of course seek to accommodate as many supporters as possible with a part opening of the stand.”

The source from outside the club told us the latest delay was due to the decision to knock down a retaining wall which was initially scheduled to remain.

The chief executive explained: “A decision was made to extend the footprint of the changing room and therefore this has resulted in additional works being required to the rear of the stand.”

When asked if it will be possible for season-ticket holders to be in the East Stand next season, the club said it would communicate directly with those holding ‘East Stand promises’ in due course.

The club confirmed demolition work on the remaining section of the old stand is scheduled to start on June 9.