Watford has sacked their manager Marco Silva after a poor run of results in the Premier League, with the club apparently expressing discontent at Everton’s pursuit of him earlier in this campaign. The news of Silva’s sacking was confirmed in the club’s official website on Sunday.
The Hornets enjoyed a terrific start to the season and were cruising in fourth place in the Premier League standings back in October last year but had only tasted victory just once in their previous 11 league matches since then. They are currently sitting in 10th place but are just five points above the relegation zone following their disappointing 2-0 loss away at Leicester City on Saturday.
It is being reported that the ex Malaga and Rubin Kazan boss Javi Garcia will succeed Silva at Vicarage Road. The club expressed their reasons for parting ways with the Portuguese manager on their website and released an official statement which stated,
“This has been a difficult decision and one not taken lightly. The Club is convinced the appointment of Silva was the right one and had it not been for the unwarranted approach by a Premier League rival for his services we would have continued to prosper under his leadership.
“The catalyst for this decision is that unwarranted approach, something which the Board believes has seen a significant deterioration in both focus and results to the point where the long-term future of Watford FC has been jeopardised.
“For the security and success of the football club, the Board believes it has to make a change.
“The Club will seek to make a swift appointment and there will be no further comment until that appointment has been made.”
According to a reliable source in the English press, the Hertfordshire club called him to the training ground on Sunday morning where he was relieved of his duties by CEO, Scott Duxbury. It is believed that Silva was eager to make a switch to Everton earlier this season which broke his trust with the board and damaged his relationship with the players as indicated by the club hinting that it was the “catalyst” for his departure.
Watford were the sixth highest spenders in the Premier League last summer and had aimed for a top-eight finish this season, after letting their Portuguese boss assemble their most expensive squad. They made a habit of throwing away crucial points from winning positions in recent weeks as evidenced by their bitter home loss to 20th placed Swansea City which alarmed the club officials into making a decision this month.
It remains to be seen who succeeds Marco Silva at Vicarage Road as they look to avoid getting themselves involved in a relegation dogfight in the second half of the season.
