According to the Telegraph, Everton have finally resolved the long-running dispute with Watford over hiring Marco Silva as their manager after agreeing to pay compensation which is understood to be around £4million.
The deal will head off the need for a full independent QC-led inquiry being launched by the Premier League with the organisation having insisted that it wanted the issue sorted out.
Watford made a formal complaint to the Premier League last year believing Silva had been ‘tapped up’ by Everton. The Premier League employed a law firm to interview all the parties involved in the case to establish what should happen next with the hope that a resolution would be reached.
The range of possible sanctions, if the case went to an inquiry and it found against Everton, included a points deduction but the hope was always that it would be settled through a financial arrangement. That has now happened.
Watford were left furious by Everton’s attempts to bring in Silva in November 2017 following the sacking of Ronald Koeman. Watford had started the season strongly under Silva, who had arrived in the summer on a two-year deal from Hull City, and were in the top four after eight matches.
Everton targeted Silva as Koeman’s replacement but Watford rejected their approach, turning down up to £10million in compensation for the Portuguese who did not have a break clause in his contract.
Silva wanted to go but was adamant that he was not distracted by Everton’s interest and continued to focus on his job at Watford and did not act improperly. Everton also insisted they did not make an illegal approach for Silva.
In the event Watford’s form deteriorated to such an extent that Silva was sacked after a run of one win in 11 matches on Jan 21 with the club just five points above the relegation zone.
Watford clearly pinned the blame for their collapse on Everton’s interest and the disruption it caused. "The catalyst for this decision is that unwarranted approach, something which the board believes has seen a significant deterioration in focus and results to the point where the long-term future of Watford FC has been jeopardised,” the club said in a strongly-worded statement when Silva was dismissed.
Everton eventually turned to Sam Allardyce who was then sacked at the end of last season with Silva taking over on a three-year contract.
In July, Watford released a statement insisting that their case against Everton was less about receiving financial compensation than making a stand over what they believed to be a clear breach of rules on alleged ‘tapping up’ with damaging consequences.
It has now been agreed that there is no need for a full inquiry to take place, much to the relief of the Premier League who had hoped the matter would have been dealt with as part of Watford’s sale of Brazilian forward Richarlison for £40million to Everton last summer. But that did not happen.
At that time the clubs never came close to any agreement and complaint over Everton's conduct and so the case was placed in the hands of lawyers appointed by the Premier League to examine the evidence and basis for any charge.
Watford replaced Silva with Javi Gracia and are eighth in the Premier League, four points ahead of Everton, with the Spaniard having been rewarded with a new extended contract for the impressive job he has done.
Life has not gone so smoothly for Silva at Everton who has been under increasing pressure after a disappointing run of form – with nine defeats in 13 matches - which included a defeat at Watford in the club’s last Premier League game.
Silva received a hostile reception at Vicarage Road during that game because of the circumstances under which he wanted to leave Watford.
Despite the run of form it is understood that Silva retains the backing of the Everton hierarchy, led by majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri. However Everton have a tricky run of homes games to come with Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United the next four teams to visit Goodison Park.
Source
The Telegraph
