Hornets expected to unveil Boothroyd

Watford were today expected to name Leeds first-team coach Adrian Boothroyd as their new manager.

It is anticipated the 34-year-old will leave his position at Elland Road to take up the position at Vicarage Road.

The Hornets sacked former boss Ray Lewington on March 22, with the club precariously poised outside the Championship drop zone.

At the time of Lewington’s exit, Watford chairman Graham Simpson promised that the club would appoint a “young, progressive manager”.

Boothroyd would appear to fit the bill.

He is seen as one of the best young coaches in the game, having held positions with Peterborough, Norwich, West Brom and Leeds. He was involved in the Peterborough academy before becoming youth team coach at Norwich in 2001.

Gary Megson took Boothroyd with him in 2003 when he joined West Brom, where he became youth development manager.

The offer to join Kevin Blackwell’s coaching staff at Elland Road proved irresistible last summer but the Watford job, and the chance to enter management at a young age, appears to have been similarly hard to refuse.

If the appointment is confirmed, when Watford make a lunchtime announcement, Boothroyd will take charge of his new team for the first time at Burnley on Saturday.

Boothroyd's playing career took him to Peterborough, Mansfield, Bristol Rovers, Huddersfield and Hearts.

He possesses a UEFA ‘A’ coaching certificate and has of late been studying for a Professional Footballers Association management course at Warwick University.

Watford are currently 15th in the Coca-Cola Championship but just four points clear of third-bottom Coventry, with a poor sequence of results having left this season’s Carling Cup semi-finalists in danger of the drop.