Image source, Getty ImagesWest Ham United are keeping tabs on 20-year-old Watford winger Nestory Irankunda, who scored in Australia's 2-0 win over Turkey in their first game at the 2026 World Cup. (Football Insider), external
For more transfer news and rumours, read Thursday's full gossip column here.
Image source, Getty ImagesWe asked you what you thought of Watford's appointment of new boss Alessio Dionisi.
Here is a selection of what you had to say:
Matt: He will be gone by the first international break. Until Gino Pozzo wakes up, realises that the problem is him and the people that run the club, we will never move forward.
Martin: If you throw enough darts at the board eventually you must hit the bullseye, surely?
Graham: Par for the course. Completely predictable appointment, ticks every WFC box - no EFL experience, doesn't speak English, mediocre career, unknown, recently sacked for poor results in a poor league in a foreign country.
Qas: We keep putting a new driver behind a sputtering car, rather than changing the engine. Likely to lose Louza and possibly Irankunda or Maamma this summer, without adequate replacements, it might finally be the season our car comes to a complete stop.
Tony: Again it feels like the Pozzos trying to do things on the cheap. Duxbury says we need more Championship experience so we go an get a 'promotion specialist' who has never coached in England.
It will be interesting to see what they do in player recruitment as they are lagging behind other teams (even compared to League One) in terms of splashing the cash on quality, proven players.
Harry: I suppose that Pozzo feels that the scattergun approach to appointing first team coaches must, by the law of averages, pay off at least once. Can only hope that he gets given the players to supplement those already at the club to allow him a chance of success.
Neale: If we get in the players we need he has a fighting chance. We need two experienced defenders and a striker who can hold up. If we get those, it would suit his system he will want to play.
Keeping hold of Baah, Kyprianou, Irankunda and Vata will be crucial to that though. Fingers crossed (that's all we have left!).
Peter: Changing the manager on such a frequent basis only fosters a toxic attitude within the players, as they know they won't be to blame. We've seen this for the last few seasons, and it won't change until the Pozzos sell the club.
Joel: So this is the experienced, promotion-winning Championship manager we were promised? Another elite appointment from the board who have once again ticked every box on the job specification.
I assume Alessio has been told to avoid anything longer than short-term accommodation, because I'm not convinced he'll make it to the first international break, especially when you consider his record at previous clubs.
Here we go again. Watford have a brand new manager in Alessio Dionisi to lead them into the 2026-27 season.
If you're trying to count up how many managers we've seen through the doors at Vicarage Road since the Pozzo family took over in 2012, Dionisi makes it 24.
The Italian has won the Serie B title with Empoli but the Hornets will offer him his first taste of English football.
Do you think Dionisi could be the one to go the distance, Watford fans?
What are you expecting from your new boss?
Is a fresh face what you were hoping to see in your dugout?
Let us know your thoughts here and check back later to see a handful of your responses.
Image source, Getty ImagesScoring a goal at the World Cup finals for Australia is "a dream come true" for Watford forward Nestory Irankunda.
The 20-year-old opened the scoring with a 27th-minute strike in The Socceroos 2-0 win over Turkey in Vancouver on Sunday.
Irankunda is the youngest player to score for Australia at the World Cup at 20 years and 125 days, beating the previous record set by Brett Holman at the 2010 tournament.
"It is unreal. A dream come true," said Irankunda after Sunday's Group D victory.
"It feels amazing (to be the youngest scorer). You've got to thank the staff, you've got to thank the nation. They all believe in me to do so well and, getting that goal was amazing. It is just a great feeling."
Irankunda moved to Watford from Bayern Munich in July 2025 and scored four goals in 40 Championship appearances last season as the Hornets finished in 16th place.
Australia are second in their group and play the leaders and co-hosts the USA in Seattle on Friday, 19 June.
Image source, Getty ImagesWatford winger Nestory Irankunda and goalkeeper Egil Selvik were both in international action at the weekend as preparations for the World Cup ramp up.
Irankunda played 71 minutes for Australia in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland, while Selvik came on for the last 18 minutes of Norway's 1-1 draw against Morocco.
Hornets midfielder Edo Kayembe will also be at the tournament with DR Congo, who face Chile in their final warm-up game on Tuesday.
Here is a reminder of the groups the Watford players are in and who they will face, so you can keep an eye out for them once the World Cup begins on 11 June:
Nestory Irankunda, Australia - Group D: USA, Paraguay and Turkey
Egil Selvik, Norway - Group I: France, Senegal and Iraq
Edo Kayembe, DR Congo - Group K: Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia
Image source, ShutterstockWatford first-team coach Alberto Garrido has announced his departure after two seasons with the Championship club.
The Spaniard was appointed in the summer of 2024 to work alongside then boss Tom Cleverley and retained his position under Paulo Pezzolano, Javi Gracia and Ed Still.
"To the players, the staff, the fans and everyone who works at Watford - thank you. For your trust, for how you treated me, and for the respect you gave me from day one," Garrido posted on Instagram., external
"This club and its people will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you Watford. Once a Hornet, always a Hornet.
"Excited about the new challenges that are coming."
Watford are still in the process of selecting a new head coach, having sacked Still on 3 May after they finished 16th in the Championship.
Former Sassuolo, Palermo and Empoli boss Alessio Dionisi is among the names linked with the job., external
Image source, Getty ImagesWatford forward Nestory Irankunda has been named in Australia's squad for the World Cup which starts next week.
The 20-year-old has made 13 senior appearances for the Socceroos, scoring five goals, including two in a 5-1 friendly win over fellow World Cup qualifiers Curacao in March.
Irankunda also came on for the final 10 minutes of their 1-0 World Cup warm-up defeat by co-hosts Mexico on Sunday.
Australia are in Group D for the tournament alongside Paraguay, Turkey and co-hosts, the USA. They start their campaign against Turkey on Sunday, 14 June.
Image source, Getty ImagesWatford won the FA Youth Cup in 1982 and 1989
Watford have withdrawn their under-21 side from the Professional Development League with a view to creating a "smoother and more realistic pathway to first-team football".
The Hornets have announced that after a review of their academy set-up, they will concentrate their efforts on the under-18 age group with the aim of both improving the overall standard of, and opportunities for, their best young players.
"This key group of young professionals will either train with the first team and/or gain experience out on loan at a much earlier stage in their Professional Development League journey," the club said., external
"The club does not believe fulfilling the U21 fixture programme is in the best interests of its young players and their prospects, so it has notified the EFL of its decision to withdraw from the league for next season."
Watford finished seventh in the Professional Development League this season, winning 12 of their 28 games.
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"It's one of those clubs where you go in and you're almost dead before you walk in the building.
"It's such an unstable environment for everybody; coach, players, fans must be pulling their hair out. It's just another here we go again."
The 72+ team discuss another change in Watford's managerial roundabout after the sacking of Ed Still.
Listen to the latest episode on BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesEd Still, right, was the 23rd different manager Watford have had under the ownership of Gino Pozzo, left, and his family since 2012
We asked for your thoughts after Watford head coach Ed Still was sacked less than three months since taking over from Javi Gracia at Vicarage Road.
The 35-year-old was the Hornets' 23rd different boss - both permanent and interim - in 14 years under the ownership of the Pozzo family, and won just three of his 15 league games in charge as Watford finished 16th in the Championship.
Here are a selection of your responses.
Steve: Yes Ed should have been sacked, obviously the players are lacking motivation and leadership. However, who wants the poisoned chalice of a three to six-month contract at WFC before the Pozzos give them the chop?
Martin A: Unless there is a major change in strategy or ownership, nothing will change. Ten years ago, Pozzo was the solution and we thank him for that, but now has become the problem. Does not matter which players he brings in, the new manager will not have respect of the players as they know he will soon be gone.
Ian: The Pozzos have been positive for the club in the past, but seem to have lost interest and happy to allow the club to slide, which could be disastrous for a club I've been watching for nearly 60 years. I worry we will follow Leicester into League One, and maybe worse.
Richard: As usual, Watford in complete disarray. Watford should have kept faith with Tom Cleverley, look what he is doing at Plymouth. I have supported Watford for over 60 years and was privileged enough to be around when Graham Taylor was manager. I really am totally disgusted by what my team has become under the Pozzo family. Whenever we get a new signing, they mostly come from Udinese. Watford must soon realise that things won't get better under this regime.
Martin M: Ed Still was never going to work out, however we look at Tom Cleverley. Doing well at Plymouth, backed by their owners. At Watford we liked him, he liked us. But after a few bad games he was gone.
Ryan: Ultimately the manager role is redundant at the club. Until Scott Duxbury, Mogi Bayat and Gino Pozzo depart the club we will keep going in this cycle. No decent manager will take on the role.
Matt: Please, please change the approach. Scott Parker has just become available and he would bring one of the best Championship records around. Oh, and sack the recruitment team. Listen to what Javi told you.
Neil: Go and get Scott Parker if you are serious about getting back to the promised land.
Divs: Whether Pozzo et al are still involved next season, we need to take our situation seriously. A decent experienced manager, and experienced Championship or lower Premier League level players to accompany the young stars like Maama, Baah, Vata etc. No more cheap, short-term "fixes" like Pezzolano or Still.
Tracey: I think it is the right decision. The end of this season has been painful, and I am sure it would have been the same next season if he had stayed. I feel for Ed, and I wish him well for the future, but we need a complete change. I hope that whoever comes in next has the backing he needs from the board. I personally would like to see some players with Championship experience coming into the club that can bring more stability to the team. We need to have more players that understand how to play at this level, and we then might have a good chance of having a better next season.
So, Hornets fans, Ed Still's brief stint at the helm at Vicarage Road is over, less than three months after he arrived.
Do you think it was the right decision for the board to part ways? Five straight defeats, and the manner of them, to end the campaign surely made things pretty untenable?
Who would you like to see take over in the hottest hot seat in English football? Do you think there are enough quality players at the club to launch a play-off push next season? Who is key to your hopes for a brighter future?
Still: 'Now there's plenty of time to reset'
Watford head coach Ed Still admitted the end of the season was 'needed' by his team after they lost 4-0 at home to champions Coventry in their final game.
It extended the Hornets' losing run to five matches and increased the speculation about the Belgian's future at Vicarage Road.
"Our job is to put a team together, create a balance and make sure you're creating more - and better - opportunities than the opponent, and not giving away much (at the back)," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.
"We had more than enough chances to come level (at 1-1) and we don't do it, and the phase we've been in for the last few weeks, we know oppositions are going to put balls in the top corner from 30 yards - that's when you feel just how fragile the whole team is at the moment."
He added: "The end of season is needed and there is plenty of time to reset, reshape and start again afresh from the summer.
"We have young defenders, lack of Championship experience, lack of focus and you get punished. For the third (goal), we were eight against four, or six against three, a massive overload.
"You can't be as soft as that in the box, you'll get punished for it, especially against teams on such a high."
