Watford’s head of Academy Darren Sarll has been suspended following allegations of bullying.

The Watford Observer understands the Hornets acted promptly to suspend the 35-year-old once it was made aware of the allegations and an internal investigation into the matter is now being conducted.

Sarll joined Watford in June of last year when he accepted a “senior youth management” role.

Prior to that he was manager of Stevenage where he took over from Teddy Sheringham in February 2016, initially on a caretaker basis, but was later permanently installed in May of that year after ending the season with one defeat from their final nine matches.

He was removed from his role as manager in March 2018, but remained with Stevenage in a “technical development” role, in which he oversaw the club’s youth development both domestically and overseas.

He represented several Hertfordshire based non-league clubs during a playing career that spanned five years, including Berkhamsted, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead Town.

He has also held youth team management roles with Brentford and Rotherham United where he worked with Watford’s sporting director, Andy Scott.