Watford have sacked manager Marco Silva, blaming Everton’s approach in November as the “catalyst for this decision”.
Hornets chiefs, who have seen seven bosses come and go in five years before Silva was appointed in May 2017, blame their latest sacking on Everton.
A Watford statement said they were “convinced the appointment of Silva” last summer “was the right one”.
And, without “the unwarranted approach” they would have “continued to prosper under his leadership”.
The statement added: “This has been a difficult decision and one not taken lightly.
“The catalyst for this decision is that unwarranted approach, something which the board believes has seen a significant deterioration in both focus and results to the point where the long-term future of Watford has been jeopardised.”