Geoff Doyle
BBC Three Counties Radio sport

Walter Mazzarri will take charge of Watford for the final time at home to Manchester City on Sunday.

He was the eighth managerial appointment since the Pozzo family took over the club in 2012.

So who's in the running to be the ninth?

• Leonid Slutsky (pictured) is the current favourite - the Russian managed CSKA Moscow for six years until six months ago, winning titles and playing in the Champions League. During that time he also led the national side in last year's European Championships

Image source, Getty Images

• Also in the frame is former Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri
• Hull manager Marco Silva, whose side have just been relegated from the Premier League
• Slavisa Jokanovic - the former Watford boss who led the Hornets back into the Premier League

Simon Oxley
BBC Three Counties Radio

Watford are looking for a new manager this morning following yesterday's decision to part company with Walter Mazzarri after Sunday's final game of the season at home to Manchester City.

Image source, Getty Images

Peter Brown, chairman of the independent Watford Supporters Trust, external, says Mazzarri's failure to speak English was a key factor, but fans back the club's owners - the Pozzo family - to make the right choice.

"They probably have their eyes on people," he said.

"I would like the next manager to come in that can relate with fans, can talk English in a concise and clear way [so] that people can understand where he's coming from and what he's saying."

Sara Thornton
BBC Weather

A much better day than yesterday, although cloud and showers are lingering in the east.

Sunnier spells inland, with temperatures reaching a high of 18C (64F).

It's downhill overnight with a band of rain pushing in from the south, heavy at times.

BBC Weather has a local forecast for where you live.

Katy Lewis
BBC Local Live

Good morning and welcome to Thursday's live page for the three counties where we'll be bringing you the latest news, sport, travel and weather until 18:00.

Today, amongst other things, we'll be looking at the football world as Watford begin their search for another new manager and Luton prepare for the second leg of their League Two play-off semi-final against Blackpool at Kenilworth Road tonight - with history against them.

And we're just hearing that Charles Wells is selling its Bedford brewery and brand sales to rival brewers ... more on that coming up.

Meanwhile, if like me you're only just drying off after yesterday's rain - a regional forecast will be coming up to let you know if there's any chance of keeping dry today.

Meanwhile, you can contact us at any time via email, Facebook, external or Twitter, external.

Ridwaan Shaikh had to wait 45 minutes to learn he was guilty of manslaughter.

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

That's it for today on the Local Live news feed for Beds, Herts and Bucks.

We'll be back with more news, sport, travel and weather from 08:00 on Thursday.

Today we've reported on the news that Walter Mazzarri is leaving Watford, and we've also found out what a David Bowie statue in Aylesbury will look like.

You can, of course, read all those stories and more by scrolling through the page.

Also, I think another word to sum the day up is soggy, as this picture from BBC Weather Watcher carlas garden shows.

London Midland, external will be honouring Graham Taylor by naming one of its newest trains after the former England manager.

Image source, Getty Images

The train operator will be holding an unveiling ceremony at Watford Junction station on 2 June. The Class 350 train will be named Graham Taylor OBE for the rest of its working life.

The train will pass through stations serving many places associated with his career including Watford Junction (Watford), Aston (Aston Villa), Wolverhampton (Wolves) and Wembley Central (England).

Here's the type of train that will bear his name.

Image source, London Midland

BBC Weather

Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, some heavy and thundery overnight.

Image source, BBC Weather

The possibility of 15mm to 25mm of rain with the chance of more for some areas.

Lows of 9C, that's 48F.

Thursday will be mainly dry with sunny spells and feeling fresher.

Highs of 18C (64F).

BBC Weather has more local forecasts.

Lee Agnew
BBC Three Counties Radio

A 22-year-old man has been found not guilty of murder, but guilty of manslaughter after hitting a man during a night out in Watford last year, which resulted in his death.

The jury at The Old Bailey heard how Ridwaan Shaikh (pictured below), from Ilford, carried out an attack "without warning" on 21-year-old Bradley Cresswell, from South Oxhey, after they had been to Hydeout Nightclub in the town on 17 September.

Image source, Hertfordshire Police

The court heard Mr Cresswell (below) was hit twice, and the second attack resulted in a bleed on his brain.

He was rushed to Watford General Hospital but never regained consciousness.

Image source, Hertfordshire Police

Shaikh is due to be sentenced tomorrow.

Luke Ashmead
BBC Three Counties Radio sport

Luton have no major injury concerns ahead of tomorrow's League 2 play-off semi-final second leg against Blackpool.

The Hatters will look to overcome a one-goal deficit to make it to the final at Wembley.

Manager Nathan Jones said it's going to be a "wonderful night", and "these are the nights you want to be a manager, you want as a player".

"Yep, we would have liked to have gone up already, but what a way to turn around a tie at home in front of 10,000 fans, absolutely outstanding," he added.

Image source, Luton Town Football Club

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

It's thought that the lifesize David Bowie statue that was due to be installed in Aylesbury in September won't be in its permanent position until March.

The bronze sculpture, named Earthly Messenger, will eventually sit under the arches in Market Square, referenced by Bowie in the song Five Years.

The delay is due to scaffolding work being in place, so it could mean it's given a temporary home first, and will be moved to its planned position a few months later.

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Pope
BBC Local Live

Emergency services have been in action in Hertford this afternoon, helping a woman stuck in the river.

They say the lady is now safe, warm and well after going into the river to rescue her dog.

Police, fire and the ambulance service all went to help.

Image source, Hertford Police

A popular tattoo shop in Luton has reopened after the previous owner died following a heart attack last year.

Richard Burley ran the original shop Adrenalin Tattoos for 17 years before it closed its doors.

Mr Burley's apprentice, Natalie Rolls, decided to open the store in a new location and hire the previous staff.

Wycombe Wanderers sign forward Paris Cowan-Hall for the fourth time, on a contract until the summer of 2019.

Stevenage sign striker Alex Samuel from Premier League side Swansea City on a two-year contract.

BBC Sport

Watford's next manager will be their ninth in five years, and the eighth since the Pozzo family took over the club in 2012.

Monday's 4-3 defeat at champions Chelsea was their fifth loss in a row, although the Hornets avoided relegation and are six points above the drop zone with a game to play.

The club announced in May 2016 that former Inter Milan boss Walter Mazzarri would become head coach on a three-year deal from 1 July, after the departure of Quique Sanchez Flores.

Flores left despite guiding the club to the FA Cup semi-finals and comfortably retaining their Premier League status, while Slavisa Jokanovic exited a year earlier after leading Watford into the top flight.

Image source, .

In contrast, Quique Sanchez Flores won 31.6% of his Premier League games in charge.

Geoff Doyle
BBC Three Counties Radio sport

This comes as no surprise.

There have been problems rumbling at Watford all season with Mazzarri in charge, and it was just a question of when it would come to a head.

These have included training issues (players undercooked pre-season, overcooked towards the end of the season) causing unrest in the squad and possibly the reason for long-term injuries to five or six current key players.

Mazzarri's relationship with skipper Troy Deeney has appeared strained for most of the season, with the influential captain dropped three times in the past two months.

There seems to have been unhappiness within the squad with the tactics, formations and philosophy of the "old school" boss.

Image source, Getty Images

It certainly appeared Mazzarri had "lost" the dressing room weeks ago.

Mazzarri's lack of English has irritated the club, fans, media and players, with instructions on the training ground and in games made via interpreters.

Mazzarri has never had a connection with the supporters, in contrast to the man he replaced, the charismatic Quique Sanchez Flores, with little acknowledgment to the fans all season leading to unpopularity.

When the bad run came (and it was always going to, five defeats in a row now) Mazzarri had little or no support anywhere around the club.

The inevitable has occurred.

The planned bronze statue features an image of David Bowie in 2002, looking down at Ziggy Stardust.

BBC Sport

Here's just some reaction to the news that Walter Mazzarri is to leave Watford, via Sporsday.

Jonathan Schogger‏: If I am this happy with Mazzarri leaving after one year, I can only guess the joy of Arsenal fans if #wengerout, external happens.

Crown Jewells: My top choice for Watford manager is Marco Silva, followed by Jokanovic and finally Clement. Silva probably the most likely.

Rory Hill‏: Well I feel less conflicted about the board's decision than I did last season... Return of the Slav?

Slavisa Jokanovic's Fulham were knocked out of the Championship play-offs by Reading on Tuesday.

You can tell us what you think by Twitter using #bhblive, external or email.

Image source, Getty Images