Watford shocked as Gianfranco Zola quits club

Posted Tuesday, December 17, 2013 by Dailystar.co.uk

GIANFRANCO ZOLA fell on his sword last night after Watford’s awful run of form.

STING IN THE TAIL: Popular gaffer Gianfranco Zola has left his post at Watford

The Italian quit his post as head coach following nine games without a win in the Championship that has seen the Hornets drop eight points off the play-off spots.

And Zola, 47, said he had tendered his resignation to help Watford get in a new man to turn things around.

Watford shocked as Gianfranco Zola quits club
END OF THE ROAD: Zola has called it a day after seeing his Hornets side slip out of promotion contention

Watford shocked as Gianfranco Zola quits club He said: “I must place Watford first in my thoughts and it is for this reason that I have taken my action.

“I feel that it is in the best interests of the team that somebody new is given the chance to bring the success which we have all hoped for and worked very hard for.

“It is for a variety of reasons, and not just over one matter or one moment, that I feel this is the right decision for me, in the best interests of the club.”

Zola took Watford to the brink of automatic promotion to the Premier League last season before they eventually had to settle for third place.

The Hornets then beat Leicester in a dramatic play-off semi-final, thanks to Troy Deeney’s last-gasp winner, but lost out to Crystal Palace in the Wembley final.

Watford shocked as Gianfranco Zola quits club
TEMPTED: Former Crystal Palace and Blackpool boss Ian Holloway could take the reigns at Vicarage Road