The Pozzo family's ruthless reign at Watford has become routine after moving onto their FIFTEENTH boss in under a decade by sacking Claudio Ranieri... but Roy Hodgson just might be the most sensible of the lot

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The conveyor belt under the managerial hotseat at Vicarage Road is shifting into gear again. Claudio Ranieri’s brief stint was desperately poor, even by the low standards set by some of his Watford predecessors.

The Italian was the 14th new hire – the 13th individual when you consider Quique Sanchez Flores has been given two cracks at the whip – and by some way one of the most underwhelming. It’s not news to fans though. They have become used to ill-conceived hires under the Pozzo family.

What is encouraging to supporters, however, is the next face set to grace the Vicarage Road dugout. Roy Hodgson has experience of managing across the continent, of managing England and even managing under the Pozzo family. 

Most importantly, he has experience of keeping teams in the Premier League - and now he will get to work on plotting the Hornets' survival after being confirmed as their next manager until the end of the season.

Roy Hodgson has been appointed as new manager of Watford after Claudio Ranieri's sacking

Claudio Ranieri was axed having only been handed the managerial role back in October

It is about as astute an acquisition as you could have hoped for the Italians to make, even if you do question the decision of the 74-year-old to work with owners who fired him from his Udinese role with the club ninth and in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia on their last joint venture back in 2001.

Gino Pozzo has been responsible for hiring and firing 14 different bosses to date 

That was after less than six months in the job. In fairness to the Pozzos, that is a relative life sentence compared to some of the terms served by former Watford bosses.

The mystifying wisdom of Gino Pozzo, the managing director, was swiftly in evidence following the 2012 takeover, as Sean Dyche, a club icon who had returned after finishing his playing career to work his way from youth coach to first team boss, was fired without so much as taking charge of a single game under the new owners.

Dyche’s very next job was Burnley, one he has never since left. He has managed over 400 games with the Turf Moor outfit, consolidating their place in the Premier League for each of the past six seasons. His success reinforces the feeling that decisions at Vicarage Road have veered towards the shambolic since the Pozzo family arrived.

Gianfranco Zola was Dyche's replacement. At first he did not appear the worst of appointments, as he led the team to the 2013 play-off final against Crystal Palace, via the most memorable of last-minute victories against Leicester City in the semis. 

Sean Dyche was manager when the Pozzo family took charge, but he was swiflty removed

His tenure lasted 75 games. To date, it is the longest of any boss in the past 10 years at the club.

He was replaced by Giuseppe Sannino, who enjoyed some success on the pitch, too. His downfall came off it, with reports of dressing room unrest leading him to resign from his post at the start of the 2014-15 season. That after he had led the Hornets to victory in four of the opening five matches that season.

He was replaced by Oscar Garcia, another appointment that was not so much the Pozzo family’s fault in its briefness, the Spaniard stepping down from his post after four matches due to health issues.

Less understandable was Billy McKinley’s blink-and-you’ll-miss-it stint. The Scot was handed the permanent role before having it swiftly taken back just two fixtures later. That despite securing a creditable win and draw in those games.

He was replaced by Slavisa Jokanovic on a short-term deal and the Serbian delivered, taking Watford back to the Premier League. However, he couldn’t agree a new contract after securing promotion and so Quique Sanchez Flores was granted the privilege of leading their charge back in the top flight.

The Spaniard did so in some style, picking up the Manager of the Month award for December in 2015 as he led them to mid-table security in their first season back. For the Pozzos, it wasn’t enough.

Out he went and in came the more celebrated Walter Mazzarri. A renowned coach for his work at Napoli, it was appointment set to take the Hornets to the next level. Only, it didn’t.

Mazzarri struggled, so too did Watford and the Italian was replaced by Marco Silva. The Portuguese attracted plenty of attention after his feats with Hull, and although he did not keep them up, he did enough to secure a call from Watford.

His performances at Vicarage Road also caught the eye too, and in the end he was relieved of his duties after having his head turned by Everton.

Javi Gracia came in to replace Silva, and restored a bit of stability, becoming only the second manager to reach the half-century mark under the Pozzos. He also took the club to and FA Cup final, and delivered them to the cusp of a European push in the Premier League.

The feelgood factor around the relationship did not last, though and he was replaced by Flores, returning once again in a bid to steady the ship. When he failed, Nigel Pearson assumed the role, and Vladimir Ivic after as the club’s fortunes dipped drastically as they tumbled out of the Premier League. 

Gianfranco Zola was installed as manager and was in charge during the famous Leicester win

Only Zola and Javi Gracia have lasted longer than 50 matches under the Italian owners

Xisco Munoz delivered them back to the top flight on a wave of free-flowing attacking football, but his style didn’t suit a relegation scrap in the Premier League. Neither did Ranieri’s. A little homework and conversation with Fulham would have saved the Pozzos the pain of the past three months.

Instead, it has been left to Hodgson to pick up the pieces. For a club enshrined in short-termism, a move for the country’s oldest manager makes sense. His pedigree makes it a good fit, too. History shows this is a man capable of conjuring up the great escape. His Fulham exploits in the 2007-08 season are testament to that.

West Brom and Crystal Palace have both hovered safely in mid-table under the former England head coach. Who knows how far the conveyor belt will have shuddered along by the time Watford experience those comforts again.