EFL club sack manager just 24 hours after end of Championship season

Watford have dismissed head coach Ed Still just hours after the Championship season concluded, bringing an end to his tenure after merely 83 days in charge at Vicarage Road.

The club confirmed the departure on Sunday morning through a notably terse statement, which also revealed that first team coach Karim Belhocine had been shown the exit.

"Watford FC have this morning parted company with Head Coach Ed Still," the statement read.

"First Team Coach Karim Belhocine has also left the club. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours."

The 35-year-old Belgian oversaw 15 matches during his spell with the Hornets, recording three victories, four draws and eight defeats.

His final game in charge proved a chastening experience as Watford suffered a comprehensive 4-0 defeat against Coventry at home on Saturday afternoon.

That result saw the club conclude their Championship campaign in 16th position, a finish that evidently failed to satisfy the ownership despite avoiding any genuine relegation concerns.

Still had been appointed as the third permanent manager to take charge of Watford during the 2025-26 season, continuing a pattern of rapid turnover at the Hertfordshire club.

Prior to his arrival at Vicarage Road, Still had served as caretaker manager at Anderlecht, gaining experience at one of Belgium's most prominent clubs.

His managerial CV also includes permanent roles at three Belgian top-flight sides: Charleroi, Eupen and Kortrijk.

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The younger Still brother additionally worked as part of the coaching staff at Lens, serving under his sibling Will, who went on to manage Southampton in the Premier League.

Will Still's time at St Mary's ended earlier this season, meaning both brothers have now departed English football management positions within months of each other.

The managerial merry-go-round at Watford this season began with Paulo Pezzolano, who started the campaign in the dugout before receiving his marching orders.

Javi Gracia returned for a second spell but stepped down from the role on 1 February, with Charlie Daniels taking temporary charge for two fixtures before Still's appointment.

Under Gino Pozzo's stewardship, which commenced when he purchased the club from Laurence Bassini in summer 2012, Watford have employed a remarkable 22 permanent managers across 14 years.

That extraordinary figure includes two separate tenures apiece for both Gracia and Quique Sanchez Flores.

Meanwhile, speaking in his final press conference, Still suggested he knew his time in the dugout was over.

"I'm not on social media, I'm not one to be reading the press every day," he said. "I know it's part and parcel of football that when results aren't good, when there's been such a high turnover of managers here at Watford, there's going to be smoke.

"I'm prepared for that as a person and as a manager also, so you take it and move on."

He added: "I know that I've got a two-and-a-half-year contract left, I know that discussions have been held in the past weeks to prepare for pre-season and we've got meetings planned for all of next week.

"We go from there. I'm also super realistic about the situation. I've been in the business a long time so I know exactly what the situation is, what articles are being written, what the fans are saying, and that's just part of it."