Will Still closes in on shock Championship return after confirmed manager sack news
Will Still is yet to return to management since he was sacked by Southampton at the start of November.
After leaving his side 21st in the Championship, Still was dismissed by Southampton and replaced by Under-21s manager Tonda Eckert.
The Englishman had arrived in England highly rated from his time at Stade Reims and Lens, but won just four of his 16 games in charge.
Eckert initially took over Southampton as a caretaker manager, but was handed the job on a permanent basis after strong performances.
Still was heavily linked to the Oxford United job before Matt Bloomfield was appointed at the Kassam Stadium.
Will Still emerges as clear favourite for Watford
Watford were rocked by the sudden resignation of Javi Gracia last week, which seemingly came out of nowhere.
The Spaniard indicated that he would speak to owner Gino Pozzo after the Hornets were beaten by Swansea City on Saturday, but fans did not expect his resignation on Sunday.
| Javi Gracia | Watford (second spell) |
| Wins | 8 |
| Draws | 7 |
| Losses | 6 |
| Scored | 29 |
| Conceded | 29 |
The 55-year-old only returned to Watford in October, but was clearly unhappy with the situation at Vicarage Road.
Gracia was the 22nd manager to take charge since the Pozzo family bought the club in 2012, with Still emerging as a favourite to be the 23rd.
The Englishman’s time in France was positive, and he will be determined to show that he can do it in England as well.
One major bookmaker has placed Still as the favourite for the Watford job at 2/1, with Marti Cifuentes (6/1) and Jon Dahl Tomasson (8/1) trailing behind.
What has Javi Gracia said about leaving Watford?
Gracia’s return to Watford had not been going perfectly – his side had failed to win in five consecutive games before his departure.
But the Hornets made it clear in a statement on Sunday that they had retained full belief in the Spaniard’s ability to lead the team forward.
Gracia’s own statement on Monday revealed that he disagreed, however. “I believe that the most honest thing to do was not to continue in a project where I could no longer contribute with full conviction,” he explained.
The former Leeds United boss highlighted the players and staff at Vicarage Road, and wished his former club all the best going forward.
The circumstances surrounding Gracia’s departure remain murky, however, and will be something for any arriving manager to consider.