“Clearly” – Exclusive: Don Goodman makes claim on Watford FC’s big Tom Cleverley decision.

When Watford announced Tom Cleverley’s departure after only one season in charge, it was met with frustration, sadness, and, for many, a bleak sense of inevitability.

Cleverley, who took over from Valerien Ismael on an interim basis in April 2024, oversaw a team that struggled late in the season, finishing 14th in the Championship. This is the club’s tenth permanent managerial change since 2020.

“Very harsh” – Don Goodman reacts to Watford’s latest managerial upheaval

One of those voices is EFL analyst Don Goodman, who, speaking exclusively to Football League World, weighed in on whether Watford would live to rue this latest upheaval. With a nod to the fate of prior managers like Rob Edwards, who went on to succeed elsewhere, Goodman offered a sober assessment on a move that could once again come back to haunt the Hornets. “When you’re talking about managers both arriving and leaving you can’t ever say with any certainty that the club has made the wrong choice, and that obviously remains the same with Watford.” Goodman informed FLW. “What you can say about some sackings is that they appear harsh, and Tom Cleverley’s dismissal at Watford appears to be particularly cruel.

“But no one is particularly surprised because there’s a lot of history at that football club of making harsh decisions.

“It wasn’t long ago that they fired Rob Edwards, who went on to lead Luton Town to promotion to the Premier League the following season. “So, whether they will regret it or not will remain to be seen.”

Cleverley’s Watford reign stood out in era of constant change

Only time will tell whether Watford’s decision to part ways with Tom Cleverley was prudent or just another misstep in a pattern of instability. Watford had a head coach in Cleverley who understood the club – he was a former player, academy staff member, and one of the few recent managers to finish a full season.

While performances declined in the second part of the season, with only one win in their final nine games, Cleverley also worked with one of the league’s youngest squads and remained popular with fans throughout. While the decision follows a typical pattern for the Hornets, its fairness – or lack thereof – is difficult to overlook. If the club’s next managerial hire fails to inspire the renaissance they seek, supporters and analysts alike may look back at Cleverley’s dismissal not just as another chapter in Watford’smanagerial churn – but as a turning point that signified a squandered opportunity for long-term success.

Read more on sportupdates.co.uk