Watford have announced they have sacked Marco Silva and blamed Everton’s 'unwanted approach' for the Portuguese back in November as the main reason for the club’s decline.
Silva was only appointed Watford manager in the summer and made a stunning start to life at Vicarage Road before Everton tried to make the 40-year-old Ronald Koeman’s successor.
Watford even turned down a £15m offer from Everton for his services but the Hornets have endured a staggering decline in form since then and have now sacked Silva.
“Watford Football Club has parted company with Marco Silva,” a statement read on the club’s official website.
“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 unwanted 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 unwanted 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.”
Watford before Everton's approach for Silva vs Watford after Everton's approach for Silva pic.twitter.com/KtQdNWjDCj
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) January 21, 2018
Watford were eighth in the Premier League up until Everton’s approach for Silva on November 19, but has only picked up eight points in 12 games since then, the joint-least in that period.
Despite losing nine of their last 11 league matches, Watford have only dropped down to 10th in. However, only five points separate the Hornets from the bottom three.
