"Clearly" - Exclusive: Don Goodman makes claim on Watford FC's big Tom Cleverley decision | OneFootball

Don Goodman criticises Watford’s revolving-door policy after Tom Cleverley dismissal

When Watford confirmed the departure of Tom Cleverley after just one full season in charge, it was a decision met with frustration, sadness, and, for many, a grim sense of inevitability.

The club’s head coach carousel has become almost routine - this is the Hornets’ 10th permanent managerial change since 2020 - and even Cleverley’s relative stability and strong relationship with fans couldn’t shield him from the axe.

Appointed permanently in April 2024, after initially taking over from Valerien Ismael on an interim basis, Cleverley oversaw a side that showed early promise but faltered late in the season, finishing 14th in the Championship and far from the promotion places.

While the board pointed to a need for “change” and fresh leadership, others saw it as yet another harsh sacking in a long line of cut-throat decisions at Vicarage Road.

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

One of those voices is EFL pundit Don Goodman, who, speaking exclusively to Football League World, weighed in on whether Watford might live to regret this latest upheaval.

With a nod to the fate of former managers like Rob Edwards, who went on to thrive elsewhere, Goodman offered a measured take on a decision 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 told FLW.

“What you can say about some sackings is that they seem harsh, and the Watford sacking of Tom Cleverley clearly seems very harsh.

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

“It’s not that long ago they were sacking Rob Edwards who then goes on, that very same season, to get Luton Town promoted to the Premier League.

“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 if Watford’s decision to part ways with Tom Cleverley will be seen as prudent planning or another misstep in a pattern of instability.

In Cleverley, Watford had a head coach who understood the club - a former player, academy staffer, and one of the few recent managers to complete a full season in charge.

While results in the second half of the campaign did decline, with just one win in their final nine games, Cleverley also worked with one of the youngest squads in the league and remained popular among supporters throughout.

While the decision may follow a familiar pattern for the Hornets, its fairness - or lack thereof - is hard to ignore.

If the club’s next managerial appointment fails to spark the revival they crave, fans and pundits alike may look back at Cleverley’s exit not just as another chapter in Watford’s managerial churn - but as a turning point that marked a missed opportunity for long-term progress.