Watford have called a press briefing for lunchtime today where Graham Simpson is expected to explain the reasons for Aidy Boothroyd’s departure from Vicarage Road.

The former Hornets manager’s three-and-a-half year tenure came to an end by “mutual consent” and it has been reported this morning that he has received a £600,000 pay-off after negotiating the terms of his departure in the wake of Watford’s 4-3 defeat to Blackpool on Saturday.

Former Vicarage Road coach John Ward, who also lost his job at Carlisle United yesterday, has been linked as a possible interim manager, while another Watford old boy, Millwall boss Kenny Jackett, is being tipped as a long-term successor.

Meanwhile, the club’s all-time leading scorer Luther Blissett believes the players have to take their share of responsibility for what happened to Boothroyd.

"They started this season and their form has been up and down,” he told Setanta Sports News. “They've just not been able to maintain results; they've conceded some awful goals.

“The manager is ultimately the one that gets the chop because of it but the players out there on the pitch have to go out and perform."

"The results over the past year have not been the best for him,” Blissett added.

"They started last season so well that you thought automatic promotion is an absolute certainty and that didn't go to plan."