Watford sack Slaven Bilic as Chris Wilder appointed as new manager

Watford have sacked head coach Slaven Bilic after just six months in the job.

Bilic has overseen just three wins since Christmas, leaving the club three places and four points off a play-off slot in the Championship.

“We are all ambitious to succeed this season, so something new is needed quickly while the opportunity of promotion is still real,” said Ben Manga, the club’s technical director. With the January transfer window over, to change coach is the only option available to re-energise for the final games ahead.”

Seventeen minutes after Bilic's departure was confirmed, Chris Wilder was announced as Watford's new manager.

The former Sheffield United and Middlesbrough boss has been awarded a contract at Vicarage Road until the end of the season.

Wilder, 55, joins the club with immediate effect and continues the remarkable churn of managers at Watford under the ownership of the Pozzo family over the past decade. Wilder is the 18th full-time appointment since July 2012.