Watford in shock talks with little-known Forest Green Rovers boss Rob Edwards to take over from Hodgson as next manager
WATFORD are in shock talks with little-known Forest Green Rovers boss Rob Edwards to take over as their next manager, according to reports.
Roy Hodgson will leave Vicarage Road at the end of the season as he is retiring after a 46-year coaching career.
And that means the relegated Hornets are on the hunt for yet another new manager.
According to , Edwards is the surprise candidate being lined up.
Advanced talks are said to be underway already between the Hertfordshire club and the 39-year-old.
Edwards would become Watford's ninth permanent manager in five years - with Xisco Munoz, Claudio Ranieri and Hodgson all having spells this season alone.
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The Hornets are keen to recruit a young, homegrown manager to lead their charge back into the Premier League.
And former Premier League midfielder Edwards, who started out with Aston Villa before joining with Wolves, Blackpool and Barnsley, fits the criteria.
He retired from playing in 2013 and had a brief time in interim charge at Wolves before managing Telford United, Wolves Under-23s, England U16s and then joined Forest Green in 2021.
The 15-cap former Wales international has just led the West Country side to the League Two title, earning them promotion into League One for the first time in their 133-year history.
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However, he could be making an immediate jump up to the Championship with Watford.
QPR assistant John Eustace was the previous favourite for the gig - however, the report adds talks broke down.
Former manager Sean Dyche, recently sacked by Burnley, is also in the running as well as Diego Martinez Penas, Liam Manning, Paulo Fonseca, Nuno Espirito Santo and Rafa Benitez.
Legends Fabio Cannavaro, Wayne Rooney, John Terry and Andrea Pirlo are outside bets for the club owned by the Italian Pozzo family.
Hodgson's Watford host Everton tonight aiming to end a wretched run of 11 consecutive home defeats.
