07 March 2023 , 19:38
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Chris Wilder became Watford's 17th different head coach in 11 years as the Hornets' windmill axe fell on Slaven Bilic after just 26 games in charge.
Football's most overworked firing squad had only been stood down for 161 days since Rob Edwards was marched into the exercise yard on September 27 last year. But in a desperate move to “re-energise” Watford's fading promotion bid, Bilic - whose reign was undermined by an astonishing injury crisis either side of Christmas - paid the price for taking only eight points from a possible 24 since most of the crocks returned.
Former Sheffield United and Middlesbrough boss Wilder, 55, has agreed a short-term deal until the end of the season with a single objective: Take the Hornets into the play-offs and beyond.
Although Watford's hire-and-fire syndrome has long been a laughing stock among rival fans, there was almost a weary resignation among supporters to Bilic's fate after Saturday's tedious 0-0 draw with Preston. Despite an exotic forward line including £50 million-rated Joao Pedro and Senegal World Cup winger Ismaila Sarr, they are the third-lowest scorers in the Championship's top half.
A majority of Hornets fans appear to agree with owner Gino Pozzo's latest exercise of the firing pin – because Watford and have inexplicably played in recent weeks with the handbrake on.
Watford leading the way off the pitch on Green Football Weekend by adding bees
And although his appointment may last only nine weeks – if Watford don't finish above the dotted line – Wilder could acquire hero status in Hertfordshire almost overnight.
Next man in: Chris Wilder (Getty Images)Technical director Ben Manga, explaining the decision to axe Bilic, said: “We are all ambitious to succeed this season, so something new is needed quickly while the opportunity of promotion is still real. With the January transfer window over, to change coach is the only option available to re-energise for the final games ahead.”
From the outside, even by Watford's standards of twitchy trigger fingers, Bilic – appointed last September on an 18-month contract - appears to have been harshly treated.
The former West Ham, West Brom and Croatian national coach becomes the ninth boss sacked on Pozzo's watch since September 2019, so the breathless rate of change at Vicarage Road is accelerating, not slowing down.
Gone: Slaven Bilic (Richard Sellers/Getty Images)But while Bilic's predecessor Edwards has steered arch-rivals Luton into the play-off mix, Watford have fallen four points off the pace in the scramble for a top-six finish.
He is the first manager or head coach the Hornets have fired when they are below the Hatters in the League table since Glenn Roeder left in February 1996.
Last August, Edwards enjoyed the last laugh on Wilder when Watford pinched an injury-time winner against Boro. On April Fools Day, they will met again – in the heat of the so-called M1 derby at Kenilworth Road.