Watford CEO reveals length of Cleverley deal

For a club used to regularly hiring and firing head coaches, it is perhaps not surprising that Watford did not reveal the length of Tom Cleverley's deal when he was confirmed as boss in April 2024.

However, in his programme notes for Saturday's home game against Millwall, chief executive Scott Duxbury confirmed that the former Manchester United and Everton midfielder had signed a contract until 2027.

"When Tom signed his three-year contract back in April 2024 to become head coach, it was clear then he had a passion for developing players to give them the chance to fulfil their potential.

"Perhaps this is deep-rooted in the upbringing he had as a youth product of one of the world's biggest football clubs.

"And this will continue to be very important to us as a club which strives to ensure academy graduates have a clear pathway to first-team football."

Watford are 10th in the Championship and striving to reach the play-offs for the first time since being relegated from the Premier League in 2022.

Duxbury added: "We can look forward with relish to the final run of Championship games, knowing we have a group of players totally behind their head coach.

"And who says this current season will definitely end on May 3? The professionalism inside the club means everyone is preparing for all possible outcomes.

"Work continues with eyes firmly fixed on closing the small gap to sixth place and building on a belief that there's every reason to think we can be in the mix towards the end of April and beyond."

Will Cleverley still be in place at the end of the 2026-27 season? Only time will tell.