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Everton and Watford agree compensation in the region of £4m to end Marco Silva row

The Portuguese became unpopular in Hertfordshire after an approach from Everton appeared to derail their season

Louis Mitchell
Friday 22 February 2019 18:59 GMT
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Marco Silva has not had an easy time at Everton either
Marco Silva has not had an easy time at Everton either

Everton have agreed to pay a compensation package in the region of £4m with Watford to bring an end to the lengthy dispute over Marco Silva’s appointment.

The package is designed to avoid an independent QC inquiry that the Premier League were prepared to launch to find a resolution.

Watford were fifth in the Premier League when Silva was allegedly ‘tapped up’ by the Toffees with regards to taking the vacancy left by Ronald Koeman’s departure.

Thus followed a run of one win in 11 matches that took the Hornets to five points outside the relegation zone resulting in Silva’s sacking.

Watford had placed a formal complaint with the league over Everton’s ‘illegal approach’, suggesting that Everton had turned the head of Silva whilst in charge of the Hornets and destabilised their season.

The now Everton manager was said to have been interested in the job at the Merseyside club and lost the support of his players, causing a downturn in results.

In a club statement confirming the sacking of Silva, Watford stated: “The Club is convinced the appointment of Silva was the right one and had it not been for the unwarranted approach by a Premier League rival for his services we would have continued to prosper under his leadership.

“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 FC has been jeopardised.”

Watford currently sit one place above Everton in eighth.

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