Watford sack manager after six months in charge with immediate replacement named

Watford are getting set to sack manager Slaven Bilic after are six months in charge with an immediate replacement being named.

The ex-Croatian international, 54, managed his last game on Saturday with a 0-0 draw against Preston leaving them in 9th place and four points away from a Championship playoff spot.

Since Christmas, the Hornets have only picked up three wins and collected just 14 points out of a possible 36.

Bilic, who was named as successor to Rob Edwards in September, with the latter was axed after only 10 league games in charge, won 10 out of 26 matches during his short reign, meaning his time has come to an end.

Watford Observer write that Monday (6th March 2022) was a rest day for the players and staff, while Bilic took training at London Colney today (7th March).

Strong reports suggest that Chris Wilder, a former manager of Middlesbrough and Sheffield United, is in line to succeed him.

We really need to change “four” to “five” https://t.co/V98s4bPn7f

— Specsavers (@Specsavers) March 7, 2023

STATEMENT:

Watford FC confirms the departure of Head Coach Slaven Bilić and his coaching staff.

The Hornets had won just once in the last eight Sky Bet Championship games under the Croatian Head Coach – part of a run which included just three wins since Christmas.

“We are all ambitious to succeed this season, so something new is needed quickly while the opportunity of promotion is still real,” said Technical Director Ben Manga of the club’s decision.

He added: “With the January transfer window over, to change coach is the only option available to re-energise for the final games ahead.”

The Board of Directors wishes to place on record its thanks to Slaven for his work during his time at the club.

The Hornets are pleased to confirm the appointment of Chris Wilder as Head Coach on a contract until the end of this season.

Welcome to Watford, Chris! 👋

— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) March 7, 2023

STATEMENT:

The Hornets are pleased to confirm the appointment of Chris Wilder as Head Coach on a contract until the end of this season.

An experienced manager at both Premier League and Championship level, the 55-year-old has overseen successful promotion campaigns at several clubs; notably taking Sheffield United from League One to the top-flight in the space of three seasons.

Wilder then led the Blades to a ninth-placed finish on their return to the Premier League, the club’s highest league position in nearly 30 years.

Having begun his managerial career with Alfreton Town and Halifax Town, Wilder achieved his first promotion with Oxford United, guiding the U’s to Conference Premier Play-Off glory in 2009/10.

He then won the League Two title at Northampton Town in 2013/14, earning his first of two ‘Manager of the Season’ accolades.

Joining Sheffield United in 2016, Wilder took his boyhood club from League One to the Championship with automatic promotion in 2016/17, then delivered promotion to the Premier League in 2018/19, winning his second ‘Manager of the Season’ award in the process.

Most recently manager at Middlesbrough, Wilder joins the Hornets with immediate effect and with 11 games remaining in the quest for promotion from the Sky Bet Championship.

Bilic said Watford’s goalless draw at home to Preston was a chance missed in the race to finish in the Championship playoff places.

“We’re disappointed, of course,” he said. “If we were in a more comfortable position higher up the table, or if it was earlier in the season, I might look at things differently, but we were looking to get back on the winning trail here and we didn’t.

“I think if one of the two teams deserved to win the match it was us, but simply we didn’t do enough to do that. We can say we stopped them but that wasn’t our aim, we wanted the three points and we’ve come up short.

“I expected much more in the first half. We couldn’t get on the ball, we were weak when we got in good situations, and we couldn’t get stability or control in the game. In the second half we made a few changes and we were a lot better, but we still couldn’t score a goal.”

Bilić added: “Since the World Cup break we’ve struggled to score freely. First of all we had many players out injured, and we hoped it would click when they were back but it hasn’t quite happened.

“Today, we knew Preston don’t concede many goals so we were never going to create loads of chances, but I still felt we didn’t do enough. It was always something – maybe if we were in a good situation with people in the box, the cross was bad, or if the cross was good there was a bad touch – it was always something.

“We’ll keep working to try and change things. This wasn’t the last game of the season and it isn’t quite make or break, but we have to be realistic about the fact that we need to start winning games. We’ll go again next week.”

This is what fans said as Watford sack their manager after six months in charge with an immediate replacement named…

@AllEnglandFlags: Thank you pozzos but your time is up. Thanks for the managers, I mean memories.

@alfiecassidy62: Next Week: Watford football club can confirm we have relieved Chris Wilder of his duties as Interim manager. We wish Wilder and his coaching staff the best in the future #Watford #WFC

@JigglyJoao: thank fuck for that, was scared we weren’t gonna meet our 3 manager a season target

@Mostons: Officially done with this club. Players and owners have to take some responsibility. Aweful and embarrassing l.

@ianlew17: Really surprised massively out of character for the club..

@JamesPearson25: Death, taxes & Watford sacking managers. All certainties

@JoeRobbins_15: Weird weird club

@WFCEdward14: Ffs this happened so quickly bilic was probably still collecting his bags

@TheWatfordWay25: Watford never change with the quickest announcements of the replacement. 🫢

@DASimmo: What an absolute shambles this club is. My growing discontentment with football in general is being massively accelerated by the actions of my club, or more specifically by the owner of my club. #watfordfc

@jackdavis_1881: Hats off to Gino, stayed consistent throughout. Might not be a man of his word but at least it’s never boring? #watfordfc

@JackWFC1234: I’m just not excited. At all. Not because I don’t think Wilder is a good manager, because he is. But because I know for a fact he’ll be sacked by the end of the season. It’s inevitable. Welcome anyway, Chris. Hope you enjoy your short stay. #PozzoOut #watfordfc

@hicksy_rufc: 11 managers in under 3 and arf years is just mad. Obviously throwing money at it and then signing managers not giving them a chance to get their own players in, then sacking them isn’t the correct way to run a football club. #watfordfc

@Watfordtipster: The ridiculous thing about this season’s managerial conveyor belt at Vicarage Road is the job Rob Edwards is doing up the road at Luton. He was given even less of a chance than Slaven Bilic. I’m a fan of Chris Wilder but he’ll do well to get a tune out of this team #watfordfc

@jamespryer: If it is Wilder, that will be a great appointment imo. Needs a change and it’s worth a roll of the dice. I think he’ll do well with the players, excited to see hoedt and porteus deployed further forward. #WatfordFC

@greg_oram: Watford sacked their manager today. In other news, water is wet, the Pope is indeed Catholic, and the local woods have had to be cleared due to the distinct smell of bear shit. #watfordfc

@alfie_jenner: That time again. How many times do we have to say the same thing- constantly changing the manager is not the solution here. This shitty cycle will continue as long as Pozzo is in charge. He’s the root of this #WatfordFC