FA Women’s Championship strugglers Watford have parted company with head coach Clinton Lancaster after more than two years in charge of The Golden Girls.
The club announced the news this evening via a post on their official club website. The decision has been made with mutual agreement from all parties.
Watford have determined that new leadership going into the second half of the season will give the club the best possible chance of improving their fortunes in the FA Women’s Championship.
The Golden Girls returned to the second tier in June following a successful bid for an FA Women’s Championship licence. The club have won just one of their first 11 league games and are bottom of the table with six points. Watford could avoid relegation regardless of their performances during the second half of the season with 11th-placed club Coventry United having announced their intentions to apply for voluntary liquidation.
After agreeing to step down from his position as Watford head coach, Lancaster said “I’m exceptionally proud of the part I’ve played in helping giving women’s football due prominence within Watford Football Club.
“That’s come through a hell of lot of dedication from the many players and staff who’ve helped shaped our success over these past few seasons. It’s been a privilege to help lead that progress.
“Disruptions to the past two seasons due to COVID haven’t allowed us to maintain much of a momentum, but we’ve had a great group of players and I’ve formed some life-long friendships across the squad and staff.
“I’m disappointed not to be able to be seeing the full season through but leave Watford with nothing but pride and some great memories.”
Lancaster initially took up a head coach position with Watford’s Development Squad back in 2016 before stepping up to become first team assistant coach. He was named head coach at the start of the 2019/2020 season and the club’s performances in curtailed campaigns over the next two years helped boost their bid for FA Women’s Championship football with licences largely being awarded taking into account on-field results.
Watford will now begin their recruitment process for a new head coach with a further announcement to be made in due course.
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