We check out the favourites to become new Watford manager, with Ed Still sacked after 15 games, just less than three months in charge.
The Hornets only managed just three wins from their games during his tenure and finished the 2025/26 Championship season in 16th place.
The decision comes just a day after fans hit back after Watford chairman Scott Duxbury issued a statement on an ‘unacceptable’ end to the season ahead of the final game, which went on to play out to a 4-0 defeat to champions Coventry.
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. pic.twitter.com/h0lK2BlgqR
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) May 3, 2026
CLUB STATEMENT:
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.
Watford head coach Ed Still told BBC Three Counties Radio:
“Our job is to put a team together, create a balance and make sure you’re creating more – and better – opportunities than the opponent, and not giving away much.
“We had more than enough chances to come level (at 1-1) and we don’t do it, and the phase we’ve been in for the last few weeks, we know oppositions are going to put balls in the top corner from 30 yards – that’s when you feel just how fragile the whole team is at the moment.
“The end of season is needed and there is plenty of time to reset, reshape and start again afresh from the summer.
“We have young defenders, lack of Championship experience, lack of focus and you get punished. For the third, we were eight against four, or six against three, a massive overload. You can’t be as soft as that in the box, you’ll get punished for it, especially against teams on such a high.”
Still, per Sky Sports:
“It’s definitely not the way we wanted to end the season. We defended the cross for the first goal so poorly and we have trained to stop that all week. It shows how fragile confidence is in the whole group. The end of season has come now, and is needed.
“We need to reset the squad and the staff. We need to make sure that the energy is stronger to withstand the demands of a whole Championship season. You need to keep cohesion and togetherness for as long as possible.
“Today you could see the effects of so many being players are on loan here or at the end of their contracts, or so many players who feel like their time at the club has come to an end.
“I’m not oblivious to the negative momentum and the negative feeling that surrounds the club right now. Hopefully people have seen from day one my love for the club and how much that has grown.”
Fans hit back as Watford chairman Scott Duxbury speaks on ‘unacceptable’ end to 2025/26 season
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On talkSPORT Breakfast, Jeff Stelling asked Sean Dyche if he’d go back. He replied: “Absolutely not! No chance, what are you talking about? I loved being at Watford, I had a brilliant time as a player there, an assistant manager, youth team coach, manager. But no, I wouldn’t, no.”
Footy Insider report that former Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut is an appointment lined up, up for consideration by Watford, a leading name in the frame. Marti Cifuentes also said to be a contender. Russell Martin tipped for a return to the Championship.
Here’s the fan reaction amid the favourites to become new Watford manager, with Ed Still sacked after 15 games in charge…
@Sachk0: Since 2001, Watford have had 33 managers (29 excluding caretakers). Over the past decade, they’ve churned through 17! Insane.
@DNSYE_podcast: What a complete and utter waste of time and money for fans this appointment was. Thanks Mogi
@KaiserBCFC_: HAHAHAHAHA This is potentially 5 managers inside of 12 months. FIVE. A manager every 2 months.
@thomasgpearce: What a waste of everyone’s time
@GaryRWard: Do you actually ever stick with someone?
@gloryhornet15: If you appoint that failed ex Cardiff manager things will turn very interesting
@Richwfc2: If this isn’t the end of Mogi Bayet at the football club then they deserve all they get!! Pozzo wake up and Duxbury help him too #watfordfc, blokes the biggest single reason for so much of the decline in our recent history surely the penny will drop now SURELY!
@TheHolteHub: Watford might as well start putting managers on pay-as-you-go contracts.
@WFCJimmy: Should never of been appointed. Absolute shambles of a club we have become
@wozza2484: I thought he was planning pre-season and part of the reset? 🤷🏻♂️ such a shock and shame! #watfordfc
@StevenV67: Complete and utter disgrace of a club. One manager after another and never and now excuses. Drop your selling price, Gino, and find a buyer who is interested in taking this club forward.
@MattLawless76: Will lessons be learned? What do you think! Interesting in Dux list of excuses there was no mention of the fuckwittery around HC appointments. Telling. We await the next mugs couple of months in charge.
@rio_woolf: We deserve the very worst. Getting ‘just another agent’ Mogi Bayat, who was arrested in 2018 and still under investigation, to recommend Ed to us because his brother has ties with him. Still hadn’t coached for a few years, 2/32 wins at previous clubs, 3/15 with us… Horrific.
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