Watford sack 4th boss in 15 months!
Watford set for 14th boss in eight years
WATFORD boss Vladimir Ivic was sacked last night just four months after taking charge at Vicarage Road.
The 43-year-old Serb was fired hours after the 2- 0 defeat at Huddersfield, where he had controversially left skipper Troy Deeney on the bench following an alleged bust-up.
Ivic was only appointed in August following Watford’s relegation from the Premier League.
They have held talks with ex-Valencia winger Xisco, head coach at Dinamo Tbilisi, about becoming their 14th boss in eight years.
WATFORD boss Vladimir Ivic was last night sacked after just four months in charge following yesterday’s dismal defeat at Huddersfield.
Club owners wielded the axe after the Hornets slipped to a fourth defeat of the season following relegation from the Premier League.
It is believed they have already held talks with former Valencia winger Xisco, the current head coach at Dinamo Tbilisi.
Ivic was only appointed in August, becoming the 13 th different manager since Italian businessman Gino Pozzo took over the club eight years ago.
The 43- year-old Serb had infuriated fans yesterday after leaving skipper Troy Deeney on the bench at Huddersfield for ‘discipline reasons’.
It was not just the manner of the defeat at the John Smith’s Stadium but also the bust-up with Deeney, the man known as Mr Watford, which hardened opinions in the boardroom.
The striker had scored in his three previous matches, two of which had been winning goals, so eyebrows were already raised when he found himself among the substitutes.
And it was clear there was a major issue when the 32-year-old was not brought on as Watford slumped to a shock defeat. Fraizer Campbell opened the scoring for the hosts, following a Ben Foster blunder, and an own goal from Etienne Capoue compounded a miserable day for the visitors.
And Ivic left no one in any doubt there was a problem between him and Deeney when he was quizzed on the captain’s no-show. The Serb even suggested Deeney might not have a future at a club he has graced for more than a decade, though it seems Ivic is set to be leaving the club first.
‘He didn’t start because he played a lot of full games recently,’ said Ivic. ‘I believe that he wasn’t ready to play from the beginning but the reason he wasn’t able to come on was a discipline issue.’
When asked if Deeney had a future at the club, Ivic added: ‘I don’t know, we will see. It’s between us and I don’t want to speak about this. I’m the coach and I know what is my responsibility. Nobody and no one can be above the club in my team when I’m coach.’
Deeney, who captained the club to promotion to the Premier League in 2014- 15, is a firm fans’ favourite and stayed at the club after relegation in the summer despite interest from West Brom and Fenerbahce.
This was a fourth home win in succession for the Terriers, the first time they have achieved such a feat since February 2017.
Head coach Carlos Corberan said: ‘We knew the level of quality they have. I was expecting a tough game but our effort and commitment was amazing. It’s hard to find one player that didn’t play with the correct enthusiasm and desire.’