Next permanent Watford manager betting: Former Leicester boss Claude Puel favourite to replace Nigel Pearson

Puel, who was also in charge at Southampton, is the early market leader after the Hornets sacked Pearson with just two games to go in the Premier League season.

It's not the type of job where you can play long-term, with the ruthless Hornets getting rid of three managers in one season, so it's a brave manager who agrees to move to Vicarage Road next.

Perhaps they'll be better renting a new house instead of buying.

Managers are a funny breed though, and always think they can be the ones to turn things around, so let's look at the contenders to to be the next man through the revolving manager's door at Watford.

Claude Puel 9/4

It's a curious club, Watford, with owner Gino Pozzo not being a huge fan of long-term managers, and he's said to want a new more flamboyant style from the next man in charge. They'll need to stay in the Premier League first though.

You don't get extra points for style in football, if you did, Puel wouldn't get you many anyway, but his pragmatic style has been criminally under appreciated in the Premier League. He got Southampton to the League Cup final, where they outplayed and should've beaten Man Utd by the way, and guided them to eighth in the league. Eighth!

It didn't work out at Leicester, with style issues again cited, and a bust-up with Jamie Vardy, with the big player yet again getting the upper hand on the manager. Let's remember though, that Puel won the French league with Monaco and made the Champions League semis with Lyon. He got St Etienne to a first cup final in 38 years this season too.

He's got class and experience on the biggest stage, but he hasn't got the style or that wow-factor.

Zlatko Dalic 4/1

Now things get interesting. The Croatia national team manager, who guided them to the World Cup final in Russia two years' ago would be a headline-making move, even though it's an unlikely one. Ths one makes no sense at all, which is why it could well happen at Watford.

A club managerial career that took in Croatia, Albania and Saudi Arabia is not exactly the preparation you'd want for the Premier League. File this one under unlikely.

Danny Cowley 5/1

From not wanted at Huddersfield to Premier League (maybe) with Watford? It'd be an amazing story if the former Lincoln boss and his brother ended up at Vicarage Road. They certainly have something about them even if it didn't work out that well with the Terriers.

The Cowley's do have a definite philosophy though and a certain way they want to play football - and that may very weel be more suited to better players in the Premier League than the lower end of the Championship.

Chris Hughton 8/1

Full deserves another job after his spell at Brighton - which was another one that ended because of a perceived lack of style points.

Hughton will be on most clubs' wanted list right now though as Graham Potter has shown only marginal improvement with the Seagulls to emphasise what a tough job it is at the Amex. Hughton remains highly respected within the game for both his coaching acumen and his professional demeanour.

John Terry 12/1

The former Chelsea captain and current Aston Villa coach was said to be interested in the Bristol City job, but he could go one step higher and walk right into a Premier League position. His appointment would cause another outcry from those who don't like former players walking right into top jobs, but the current form suggests it could well work.

Frank Lampard and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer aren't doing too badly now at much bigger clubs - albeir ones where they are legends and therefore given much more breathing space. Steven Gerrard has done well to an extent at Rangers, so why couldn't Terry do it at Watford?

Alan Pardew 20/1

Pardew is eager for work after a short-lived spell at ADO Den Haag in Holland. The 58-year-old's battle to keep the club in the Eredivisie was cut short by the coronavirus shutdown, although the cancellation of the Dutch campaign also brought with it a scrapping of any relegation.

The former Newcastle, Crystal Palace and West Brom boss doubtless left Holland with unfinished business, especially in light of just one win in eight matches. So any opportunity to reassert his Premier League credentials would be welcomed.

Odds correct as of 1015 BST on 20/7/20

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