Watford players have been left shocked after head coach Nigel Pearson was sacked last night with just two games of the Premier League season to go.
The squad were due to arrive at training this morning, with Hayden Mullins taking charge as interim head coach and former Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack acting as his assistant ahead of tomorrow’s match against Manchester City and Sunday’s clash with Arsenal.
The pair, who were caretakers earlier this season for two games when Quique Sanchez Flores was axed, must now look to galvanise the group as Watford aim to stay clear of the relegation places.
The Hornets are currently three points clear of the drop with two games to go and Pearson’s sacking came in the wake of Friday’s 3-1 defeat at West Ham, with Watford becoming first Premier League club to dismiss three permanent managers during a single season.
The news will have come as a shock to the former Leicester City boss, who leaves with his assistant Craig Shakespeare, as only last week he said he was “hopeful” he’d be in charge next season.
Pearson, however, has been sacked and it is understood his downfall came about following a disagreement with owner Gino Pozzo in the wake of Friday’s defeat at West Ham.
Since the Premier League’s return, Watford have started slowly in matches and Friday’s was no different as they went 2-0 down in 10 minutes.
That has been a theme of Watford’s games since the restart. In their seven games they have scored just once in the first-half, while they have never been ahead in any of those matches at the break, and Pearson has paid the price.
The timing of his departure has come as a shock to several members within the squad, who had been won over by his performance since being appointed in December. Continue reading