Slaven Bilic appointed Watford manager after Rob Edwards sacked despite only ten games in charge

Watford have appointed Slaven Bilic as their new head coach after sacking Rob Edwards after just 10 Championship games in charge.

Former West Ham manager Bilic takes over at Vicarage Road on an 18-month contract and, subject to receiving a work permit, will be in charge of their next match away at Stoke on Sunday.

Edwards was only appointed by Watford in May but he has been dismissed with the Hornets 10th in the Championship and losing ground in the automatic promotion race.

Watford feel the last international break of the year gives them a chance to re-set and believe Bilic can galvanise the squad as they target a promotion push.

Club owner Gino Pozzo said on Monday: “As with all decisions taken by the board, I believe this change to be in the best interests of the club.

“We felt Rob had enough time to show us the identity of his team, however performances haven’t reflected our hopes and ambitions.

“Now we must move forward, and, in Slaven Bilic, we have secured the services of an experienced coach who has recent experience of promotion to the Premier League.”

Bilic has been out of work since leaving Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan in January.

The 54-year-old led West Brom to promotion from the Championship in 2019-20 and is seen by the Watford hierarchy as the ideal man to lead the club back to the Premier League.

Edwards agreed a two-year contract when he left Forest Green to take over from Roy Hodgson in the summer and his appointment suggested a change of direction for Watford.

But, although the Hornets are just one point outside the play-off places, Pozzo has decided to make another managerial change.

Bilic becomes the fourth permanent Watford manager in 2022 and their 17th permanent boss since the Pozzo family bought the club in 2012.