Promoted Watford set for talks over future of head coach

Promoted Watford set for talks over future of head coach Slavisa Jokanovic

• Jokanovic, out of contract in the summer, has been linked with Sunderland


Watford are set to open talks over the future of head coach Slavisa Jokanovic. 

Watford are set to open talks over the future of their head coach Slavisa Jokanovic, with the 46-year-old Serbian out of contract at the end of the season.

Watford will finish a hugely successful campaign as the Championship title winners if they beat Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, but the future of the man who has taken them back to the Premier League remains uncertain. However it is understood that discussions are about to begin with Jokanovic, who is reportedly a target for Sunderland.

In October Jokanovic became the club’s fourth manager in 37 days in a chaotic start to the season. Beppe Sannino resigned amid rumours of dressing-room unrest, his replacement Óscar García had to leave due to ill health and Billy McKinlay lasted just eight days. Despite the upheaval, Jokanovic, a former Chelsea midfielder, won 21 of his 35 games in charge.

The club’s captain Troy Deeney has revealed he received a congratulatory phone call from the club’s honorary life president Sir Elton John. “I was in the car on Monday with my mum and Elton John phoned me,” he told the club’s website. “That was a very surreal moment. My mum was buzzing as well, because he’s obviously a legend and he was talking to her son!

“He passed on his best wishes. He’s a little bit busy so he can’t come to the last game – he’s got a gig. He was buzzing too, he said some really nice things that I would prefer to keep between me and him.

“He passed on great messages to everyone. It was a nice touch. Up until he came to open his stand [in December], I didn’t even know he knew who I was!”