50+ names in the Watford frame

So the Evening Standard reckon the Watford board already have around 50 applications for the vacant managers job at Vicarage Road.

No wonder then that under pressure Hornets chairman Graham Simpson reckoned "it is an open book and we have got lots of people who already want to be considered".

And he wasn`t kidding either.

A whole mixed bag of former Hornets, out of work coaches and Championship veterans are all screaming "me, me, me" from the rooftops in the race to replace Aidy Boothroyd if you believe all the media hype.

Legendary Watford goalkeeper Tony Coton is the latest former Hornet to be linked to the hotseat whilst the tabloids are full of a possible Barnes-Blissett dream team reunited to bring the glory days back.

Both seem unlikely given that, even without his legendary moustache, Coton is highly rated at Man Utd and Digger is still expecting to take up his post as coach of Jamaica.

Kenny Jackett did everything but fail to rule himself out of a return to his former stomping ground - whilst desperately choosing his words carefully enough to stay on the good side of those loveable Millwall fans down at the New Den.

Ok, so Jackett`s name is hardly breaking news on this merry-go-round but out of work former Spurs coach Gus Poyet`s certainly is.

Poyet - the man who (despite what Wise might say) seemed to be single handedly turning Leeds around before becoming Juande Ramos` sidekick - has nipped in under the radar but the bookies have him down at a very attractive 6-1.

Tasty!

And so we turn to the one man with 'more soundbites than Boothroyd` Ian Holloway. The former Foxes gaffer and Pilgrims boss is heavily linked and heavily backed going on the prices offered across the internet but is he the smart move, or just a never spin merchant?

Then there is Steve Cotterill - who seems to have been linked with every lower league vacancy in the last 20 years).

In VitalWatford's book this guy is old hat so to speak. Yes we admit he did have a couple of good years putting a smile on the faces of fans up at Turf Moor but a spell with Burnley certainly doesn't make him the next best thing since Hovis' finest. Still, he is, of course, once again on the tip of every sport hacks tongue…and would be a far better bet than John Ward.

Finally, and somewhat bizaarely, Darlo gaffer Dave Penny decided to rule himself out of the running through the north eastern local rags…though I`m not sure even he truly believed he was 'IN' the running to start with.

What is clear is that there`s plenty of choice out there for the Hornets board to select their next victim.

And so, after a hectic week, it`s finally a relief to hear Graham Simpson admit that Watford "just need to breathe and take things slowly" and that they "won`t be rushing into an appointment".

After all, we all know what happened the last time the board made a quick decision on a manager that no-one expected or had even heard of…

Promotion on a shoestring, cup semi final and a pair of play-offs anyone?

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