WATFORD manager Quique Sanchez Flores is reportedly on the brink of being axed… despite history showing the risks of making multiple managerial changes over the course of a single season.
The Telegraph claims Watford are preparing for their second managerial change of the season – less than three months after rehiring Flores to replace Javi Gracia.
Quique Sanchez Flores is reportedly on the brink of being axed by WatfordCredit: PA:Press Association
The Spanish tactician returned to Vicarage Road in September after Watford lost three of their opening four Premier League games.
However, they have only won once in nine matches since then, and Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Burnley leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table – five points adrift of safety.
It’s now said that Watford chiefs are bracing themselves for another change in the dugout.
They are apparently desperate for Flores to turn things around.
But with the January market approaching, Watford are prepared to pull the trigger and task a third manager with saving the club’s season.
However, they are not interested in hiring a dogfight specialist, such as Sam Allardyce or Tony Pulis.
The speculation comes despite history showing multiple managerial changes in a season rarely work out.
Only twice have teams that have had three managers survived the drop – with Portsmouth in 2008/09 and Swansea in 2016/17, managing to do so.
Usually it ends in relegation – as Fulham (twice), Aston Villa, Newcastle, Southampton, Sunderland, Leicester and Crystal Palace found out.
Premier League teams who had more than two managers in a season
Crystal Palace – 97/98 – Steve Coppell, Attilio Lombardo & Tomas Brolin (joint), Ray Lewington – relegated
Leicester – 01/02 – Peter Taylor, Dave Bassett, Micky Adams – relegated
Sunderland – 02/03 – Peter Reid, Howard Wilkinson, Mick McCarthy – relegated
Southampton – 04/05 – Paul Sturrock, Steve Wigley, Harry Redknapp – relegated
Portsmouth – 08/09 – Harry Redknapp, Tony Adams, Paul Hart – survived (finished 14th)
Newcastle – 08/09 – Kevin Keegan, Chris Hughton, Joe Kinnear, Alan Shearer – relegated
Fulham – 13/14 – Martin Jol, Rene Meulensteen, Felix McGath – relegated
Aston Villa – 15/16 – Tim Sherwood, Remi Garde, Eric Black – relegated
Swansea – 16/17 – Francesco Guidolin, Bob Bradley, Paul Clement – survived (finished 15th)
Fulham – 18/19 – Slavisa Jokanovic, Claudio Ranieri, Scott Parker – relegated
Watford have a number of tricky games coming up, including clashes against Liverpool, Manchester United and Leicester City.
Despite the Telegraph claims, Sky Sports news reports Watford have NO intention of sacking Flores at all.
They insist the beleaguered boss will remain in the hot seat for the foreseeable future.
Watford’s next game is a trip to fellow strugglers Southampton, giving Flores the chance to get three points on the board.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
