Watford release statement on future of manager and former Man Utd star Tom Cleverley in rarely-seen move
TOM CLEVERLY has had a stay of execution at Watford after the club released a statement confirming he remains their manager... at least for their next game.
The Championship club is known for its hair-trigger temperament and lack of patience when hiring and firing managers.
In the evening the club released a statement, but rather than announcing Cleverly had been axed it confirmed he would be in charge of the next game against Coventry.
The full statement said: "Watford FC confirms Tom will be in charge for the match at Coventry City and that the speculation over his position is just that - pure speculation."
Cleverly, 35, has guided the team to just one point outside of the playoffs, so the decision to sack the former Watford and Manchester United star might have seemed strange.
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However, an electric start to the season has given way to a sticky spell since the last international break, with Watford winning just four of their last 14 games in all competitions.
Reacting to the news of the ex-midfielder staying on, one fan said on social media: "Someone needs to make an Amazon documentary on this club. Absolutely mental day in day out."
A second said: "‘In charge for the match at Coventry’ doesn’t fill me with a lot of hope I can’t lie lads."
A third added: "Oh my god there are tears in my eyes."
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Another said: "The fact you have to confirm that our manager will in fact manage our team is hilarious.
"Anyway most unreassuring post I’ve seen, hardly sounds like he’s got complete support. Setting him up for complete failure come Coventry with the state the squad is in."
Despite having his immediate future secure, if Cleverly knows his recent history then he will know the club pulled this move with one of his predecessors.
In March 2023 Chris Wilder was appointed as manager before speculation emerged suggesting he was about to be sacked in April.
The club released a statement calling the rumours "disrespectful" before they then parted ways with him a month later.
Under his successor Valerien Ismael, Watford caught fans off guard by extending his contract when they were languishing one point above the relegation zone.
Since 2010, Watford have had no less than 22 different permanent managers, plus Hayden Mullins having two spells as caretaker.
After the visit to Coventry, Watford host Norwich.
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