Sunderland's Championship play-off rivals Watford have made their third head coach appointment of the season having sacked boss Slaven Bilic and installed former Middlesbrough chief Chris Wilder until the end of the campaign. The Hornets were relegated from the Premier League last season and expected to make an instant return to the top flight but are way off the automatic promotion pace and are instead one of a clutch of clubs aiming for the play-offs.
Bilic had won just one of his last eight games in charge and the Hornets had slipped to ninth in the table, four points outside the play-off spots, and just one place and two points above the Black Cats. Former Croatia, West Ham and West Brom boss Bilic had only been in charge at Vicarage Road for six months, having taken over from Rob Edwards in September. Edwards had himself only taken charge in July, and lasted just 11 games in the job.
Watford issued a statement thanking Bilic for his work during his time at the club, with technical director Ben Manga going on to explain: "We are all ambitious to succeed this season, so something new is needed quickly while the opportunity of promotion is still real. With the January transfer window over, to change coach is the only option available to re-energise for the final games ahead."
READ MORE: Norwich boss David Wagner's message to Sunderland ahead of this weekend's Carrow Road trip
Wilder becomes Watford's third head coach of the season and the 18th of the Pozzo family's 11-year reign at the club. Wilder was sacked by Middlesbrough in October with the Teessiders in the relegation zone, since when his successor Michael Carrick has changed the club's fortunes and Boro now sit third in the table and are just four points behind second-placed Sheffield United, albeit the Blades also have a game in hand.
Sunderland drew 2-2 at Watford in September when Edwards was still in charge of the Hornets, and they visit the Stadium of Light at the end of April in what will be the Black Cats' final home game of the season.
READ NEXT:
- Sunderland duo included in Northern Ireland squad for latest round of Euro 2024 qualifiers
- Graeme Murty reveals reason behind Lihadji, Ba, Bennette and Ekwah starting for Sunderland U21s
- Abdoullah Ba and Isaac Lihadji shine as Harry Gardiner brace lifts Sunderland U21s above Newcastle
- Tony Mowbray faces his toughest test as Sunderland boss as he looks to heal Stoke City scars
- Tony Mowbray explains Aji Alese was forced off with injury against Stoke at the weekend
