Watford hit out as Don Cowie joins Malky Mackay at Cardiff

Mackay is the new manager at the Welsh Championship club and has moved to sign the 28-year-old former Inverness midfielder.

However, Watford chairman Graham Taylor is unhappy at Mackay's continued moves for their players.

He said: "Our manager made a decision to leave this football club. 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.

"The club has been engaged in the process of negotiating with Don Cowie's representative for some months now. A clause in his contract meant we guaranteed to offer the player a further year with us once our Championship status was secured.

"A deal could not be struck however, and this is clearly a big part of the problem when a manager leaves. He takes all the detailed player contract knowledge with him."

Meanwhile, Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam is to begin pre-season training at Blackpool today as Liverpool continue negotiations to try and sign him.

Talks have been on-going between the clubs for the last week but no agreement has yet been reached.

Adam said: "Everybody knows the situation - the club have met with Liverpool but that's as far as it has gone. I had a conversation with the Blackpool chairman (Karl Oyston) but that will remain private."