Watford Football Club has spent all of its matchday revenue earned last season on sacking managers. The club, which has become known for its ruthlessness, has sacked Rob Edwards and Slaven Bilic this season alone. In the past decade, the Championship side has had 18 managers, including three last season. Roy Hodgson oversaw their relegation, while Xisco Munoz and Claudio Ranieri also had stints in charge. According to the Watford Observer, the club spent a staggering £7.81m in manager termination payments, which exceeds the £6.76m in matchday revenue the club brought in for games at Vicarage Road. Despite being in the Premier League last year, Watford made a loss of £18m.
Under the management of Chris Wilder, Watford is currently 11th in the Championship table. With seven matches left to play, they are six points off the play-offs, and another season in the second-tier appears to be beckoning. If that is the case, Watford will likely feel pressure to sell top assets including Joao Pedro and Ismaila Sarr.
This season has seen a record number of manager sackings in the Premier League. Graham Potter became the 12th English top-flight manager to lose their job on Sunday, just hours after Brendan Rodgers was the 11th. Scott Parker, Thomas Tuchel, Bruno Lage, Steven Gerrard, Ralph Hasenhuttl, Frank Lampard, Jesse Marsch, Nathan Jones, Patrick Vieira and Antonio Conte have all been shown the door.
West Ham boss David Moyes could yet become the 13th manager to be sacked this season, although SunSport understands he will take charge of this weekend’s trip to Fulham. Lampard, meanwhile, is set to take caretaker charge of Chelsea until the end of the season while the Blues assess other targets, including Luis Enrique, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte.
Watford’s record of sacking managers is not unique in football. Many clubs have a reputation for being quick to dismiss their managers, with some even sacking them after just a few games. This approach can be costly, both financially and in terms of team morale. It can also make it difficult for the club to attract top-quality managers in the future.
In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards giving managers more time to build their teams and implement their strategies. This approach has been successful for many clubs, including Liverpool, who stuck with Jurgen Klopp despite a difficult start to his tenure. Other clubs, such as Manchester United, have been criticised for not giving their managers enough time to succeed.
Ultimately, the decision to sack a manager should be based on their performance and the team’s results. If a manager is not delivering the desired results, then it may be necessary to make a change. However, clubs should also consider the impact that sacking a manager can have on the team and the wider organisation.
In conclusion, Watford’s record of sacking managers is a cause for concern. While the club may feel that this approach is necessary to achieve success, it can be costly and damaging in the long run. Clubs should consider giving their managers more time to build their teams and implement their strategies, rather than resorting to quick fixes. Ultimately, the decision to sack a manager should be based on their performance and the team’s results, rather than a knee-jerk reaction to a few bad games.