Daily Mirror

MIGHTY THAW IN BOARDROOM

- BY MIKE WALTERS

WATFORD will leave Everton owners Bill Kenwright and Farhad Moshiri clutching at thaws in the boardroom this evening.

Just 34 days ago, when they sacked Marco Silva, the Hornets issued a strongly-worded statement blaming the Toffees’ “unwarrante­d” pursuit of their head coach for destabilis­ing Watford’s season.

Watford owner Gino Pozzo and chairman Scott Duxbury stood firm when Everton made repeated approaches for permission to poach Silva (below), with up to £15million compensati­on to sweeten the pill. They were so appalled by Everton’s refusal to take no for an answer – despite no release clause in Silva’s contract – that they had to issue a cease-and-desist letter through the club’s lawyers before the Merseyside­rs backed down.

Everton were forced to appoint second-choice Sam Allardyce instead, while Silva presided over just five points from a possible 33 before the axe fell.

But with the main protagonis­t no longer involved, animosity will give way to courtesy in the directors’ lounge at Vicarage Road, leaving Watford to settle scores on the pitch.

Hornets’ new head coach Javi Gracia believes they must win consecutiv­e home games with Everton and West Brom.

He said: “I don’t know how many points we might need, but we need three points against Everton. I don’t like to speak about relegation and I only focus on the next match.”

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