WATFORD have called upon the caretaker services of a former Premier League star – and current PLAYER – to fill in for the departing Javi Gracia.
Adrian Mariappa, 39, made 340 appearances for Watford, including spells in the Premier League and Championship.
The defender has been juggling two jobs in recent months, after accepting a job as assistant Watford Under-21s coach while continuing his playing career.
The former Jamaica international features for St Albans City in the Isthmian league, the seventh tier of English football.
But the club will be without his services on Tuesday, as he foregoes their league clash with Cheshunt FC to help manage the Watford first team.
The Hornets are without a manager following the surprise resignation of manager Gracia, and announced that a three-man coaching team including Mariappa would lead the side for their imminent clash with Hull.
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St Albans released a statement saying: “We wish him the best of luck, and look forward to welcoming him back.”
He will be joined in his managerial duties by two fellow former Prem stars, U21 head coach Charlie Daniels and U18 coach Dan Gosling.
They step into a difficult job, with the 10th-place Championship outfit still reeling from their last manager’s sudden departure.
The club released a statement making clear that they wanted to hold on to the manager, but that Gracia, who was in his second stint with the club, insisted on resigning.
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The statement read: “The club is sad and disappointed to confirm the resignation of Javi Gracia as head coach.
“We retain the belief Javi was the right man to lead the club towards its push for promotion, but Javi felt he no longer had the motivation and was not the right man to continue coaching this exciting group of young players.
“We remain well placed in the Championship, four points off the play-offs with a game in hand and 17 matches remaining.
“Everybody at the club believes wholeheartedly this is a squad capable of challenging for promotion.
“We would like to thank Javi and his team for their work during two spells at the club. We wish him and his family the best and they will always receive the warmest of welcomes at Watford.”
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