Mixed reaction from fans as Watford announce Ed Still as their new head coach

There’s mixed reaction from fans as Watford announce Ed Still as their new head coach, following the resignation of Javi Gracia.

35 year old Edward, the brother of former Southampton boss Will Still. has been assistant manager of Lens and also Anderlecht.

But he is now at Watford, who sit 11th in the Championship, and just three points off the playoffs. They lost against Southampton at the weekend.

A warm welcome to Ed Still, Watford FC’s new Head Coach 🐝 pic.twitter.com/DtnsGtgQSe

— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) February 9, 2026

CLUB STATEMENT:

Watford FC are delighted to confirm the appointment of Ed Still as the club’s new Head Coach.

The 35-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at Vicarage Road after most recently working as Caretaker Manager at Belgian giants Anderlecht.

Still has managerial experience with Royal Charleroi, K.A.S. Eupen and K.V. Kortrijk in Belgium and will take charge of the Hornets immediately ahead of the trip to Preston North End on Saturday (February 14, 3:00pm KO).

Charlie Daniels, who led the Hornets on an interim basis for the last two games, will take up the role of First Team Coach while Karim Belhocine will also join the club in the same position.

“I’m absolutely delighted,” Still said to watfordfc.com. “I’m so thrilled and proud to be here.

“This is a club which has a big place in English football and a fantastic history.

“All of the focus will be on winning games as quickly as possible and getting the best out of the players.

“Fans can expect our team to be aggressive, really compact defensively and attack with pace.”

Still, who is fluent in both English and French, previously worked as assistant to his brother Will at Lens, helping the club to an eighth-place finish in Ligue 1 at the end of the 2024/25 season.

He has also held backroom roles at Club Brugge, Royal Antwerp and Shanghai Port.

“Ed is a coach whom this young group of players will quickly identify with,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Scott Duxbury.

“Ed’s appointment was made on the conviction that this is a coach whose modern and progressive coaching methods fit perfectly with our squad dynamic, who we believe will take the team forward, and who gives us a real chance to challenge for the play-offs.

”We are delighted Charlie Daniels has accepted Ed’s invitation to be part of his coaching staff, as we are really grateful for the job and work he did in the interim period.

”He quickly earned the respect of the technical department and the players, and his promotion maintains that link with the academy.”

As mentioned, there is mixed reaction from fans as Watford announce Ed Still as their new head coach…

@ConnorLanc: Gotta give him a chance but his record is a bit concerning to say the least. Also makes sacking TC irrelevant. Like I said, give him a chance but I doubt he’ll stick around for 2.5 years

@wfcandrew: Are you taking the fucking piss

@LukeGray1997: I mean, good luck to the bloke but what a completely uninspiring appointment that reeks of Bayat involvement. Makes the sacking of TC look stupider on a daily basis.

@watfordfan07: let’s get behind him ffs.

@MarkHalliwell1: Another sacrificial lamb. He probably won’t last the season, and the fans will soon moan that he doesn’t pick Kwadwo Baah, but picks Edo Kayembe. Pointless having a head coach really. Bloody circus. When he’s sacked I guess we appoint his brother. #watfordfc #revolvingdoor

@hornetboy84: Ed’s gone

@barnesy007: Welcome to the mad house. Don’t worry about moving your family over, you’ll likely be home by the Easter holidays

@sills77: I mean, I’ll give the guy a chance, but going for the less experienced brother of a failed championship manager doesn’t fill me with confidence or excitement 🤷🏻‍♂️ What goes through Pozzo’s mind at times??

@louorns: Appreciate I’m in the minority, and the optics around it aren’t great with Mogi Bayat, but I do like this appointment; along with the decision to keep Charlie Daniels in the first team. Also got a few messages from people who worked against him speaking really highly of his ideas

@WatfordSam: Can’t judge before he’s started, but another seemingly uninspiring appointment from Pozzo and #WatfordFC. Still, success or failure won’t be judged or defined by a spell with us, every manager has had one. We’re a mad club, he’s a mad owner. The merry go round spins again.

@WirralhornetS: Best of luck, Ed. You are going to need it

@DanHarvey74: Can’t accuse them of going for the obvious I guess. And much rather this than the previous two incumbents. The connection with that agent don’t sit well but if he’s got the managerial attributes of his brother and father (John, ex Luton) we could be onto something.

@GJWatf97: Sunday 22nd March he’ll be sacked 👍

@TommyDavo180: Inspired appointment. His track record speaks for itself, a proven and serial winner wherever he’s been. Absolutely no way we don’t go up now with this man at the helm. Welcome to Watford Ed

@roseyjason: What happened to wanting a head coach with “experience” eh Duxbury? Absolute fraud. #watfordfc