Watford have parted company with head coach Ed Still after just 15 matches in charge, following a dismal end to the Championship season. The decision came after a 4-0 home defeat to league winners Coventry City at Vicarage Road, which marked a fifth successive loss for the Hornets. During this run, Watford conceded 16 goals while scoring only once, sliding out of play-off contention to finish 16th in the table.
Short-lived tenure
Still was appointed in February on a two-and-a-half-year deal, replacing Javi Gracia who resigned. Under Still, Watford managed only three league wins, with two draws and eight defeats. His final match was the heavy loss to Coventry, confirming the club's worst run of the season.
A club statement read: "Watford FC have this morning parted company with Head Coach Ed Still. First Team Coach Karim Belhocine has also left the club. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours."
Managerial merry-go-round
Still's departure continues Watford's notorious revolving door for managers. Since Gino Pozzo bought the club in 2012, there have been 22 permanent managers, with Gracia and Quique Sanchez Flores both serving two spells. The club is now searching for its 15th head coach since 2019, when Gracia first left. Only Tom Cleverly has surpassed 50 matches in charge during that period.
Watford began the season with Paulo Pezzolano, who was sacked after ten games. Gracia returned but resigned after three months, reportedly unhappy with a lack of January transfer activity and squad experience. He left with the team just four points off the play-off places.
Chairman's response
Chairman and chief executive Scott Duxbury labelled the end-of-season form as "unacceptable" in a message to supporters ahead of the final day. He stated: "The need for a consistent and positive culture within the group, one that represents our supporters with the effort they demand and deserve, will be the driving factor this summer. We're not hiding from the unacceptable level of performance recently, it's obvious this has been truly disappointing in the extreme. But there are solid foundations going into the summer. We have some very exciting young attacking players with pace that can make a real difference in this league if allowed to flourish and supported by more experienced players."
Still, in his fifth managerial post but first in English football, leaves Watford with a record of three wins, two draws, and ten defeats. His brother Will was also sacked earlier in the season by Southampton after a 13-game stint.
