Watford appoint Rob Edwards as new manager amid bitter accusations of 'deceit'
- Planet Sport writer
- 12 May 2022
Watford turn to Forest Green Rovers boss, but League Two side furious at manner of departure.
Watford have filled their managerial vacancy by pinching Forest Green Rovers boss Rob Edwards, much to the fury of the League Two champions.
Edwards secured the League Two title earlier this month, leading them to the third tier of the English game for the first time in their history.
That has now earned him a crack at the Championship next season with Watford, although the move is not without controversy.
"Watford Football Club is delighted to confirm the appointment of Rob Edwards as its new Head Coach, effective after the conclusion of the current 2021/22 season," an official club statement said earlier.
"Rob had a contractual provision allowing him to leave Forest Green Rovers at any time to discuss employment opportunities at other clubs and the Hornets are delighted to confirm our discussions concluded today."
Edwards worked wonders at Forest Green Rovers, but he has now left under a cloud after chairman Dale Vince accused him of 'deceiving' the club.
— (C) Forest Green Rovers (@FGRFC_Official) May 11, 2022
"As soon as he started speaking, I knew that it was real," Vince told Sky Sports News. "[He told me] he had been in negotiations [with Watford] and felt it was a great opportunity for him.
"Overwhelmingly for me the feeling was disappointment, because in football people come and go all of the time. The important thing is the manner of it.
"I wish him well, but it is poor from Watford, who claim to be starting a new era, and it is poor from Rob as well. He has let us down, but he knows it, so there it is, and we will move on."
"Watford advised Rob not to tell us specifically, so for me that doubles down on the deceit," Vince added. "It is the kind of thing which gives football a bad name and the kind of thing which shouldn't happen but occasionally does.
"I believe Watford have reached out today, so now there will be some more formal, more proper process to end Rob's time here and for it to start at Watford."
