Hayden Mullins: The former West Ham midfielder has been working as a coach at Watford since 2016
Hayden Mullins: The former West Ham midfielder has been working as a coach at Watford since 2016

Hayden Mullins to take charge of Watford's Premier League clash at Leicester amid new manager search


Managerless Watford have announced that Under-23 coach Hayden Mullins will take charge of Wednesday's Premier League game at Leicester.

The Premier League's bottom club are searching for a third manager of the season after Quique Sanchez Flores was sacked less than three months after replacing Javi Gracia.

In a statement released on Sunday, Watford chief executive Scott Duxbury said the appointment of a new head coach was "imminent".

A tweet from the Hornets on Monday confirmed 40-year-old Mullins will lead the team against the second-placed Foxes.

Saturday's 2-1 loss at fellow strugglers Southampton, which left Watford rooted to the foot of the table and six points from safety, proved to be the final nail in the coffin for Sanchez Flores.

Former Brighton boss Chris Hughton is the current frontrunner with Sky Bet for the vacancy.

The 60-year-old has been out of work since being sacked by the Seagulls at the end of last term and is thought to be eager for a top-flight return having reportedly turned down approaches from Championship clubs.

Sam Allardyce, Paul Clement and former Real Betis boss Quique Setien have also been linked with the position.

Quique Sanchez Flores sacked: Who will be the next manager of Watford?

Sam Allardyce celebrates Sunderland's Premier League survival in 2016

Latest Sky Bet market:

  • Chris Hughton - 4/7
  • Sam Allardyce - 3/1
  • Paul Clement - 4/1
  • Roger Schmidt - 16/1
  • Hayden Mullins - 20/1
  • Quique Setien - 20/1

Odds correct as of 1225 GMT on 02/12/19

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