Lewington grabs Watford hotseat

Watford have named Ray Lewington as their new manager.

The 45-year-old was reserve team boss last season and had been fulfilling a caretaker role at Vicarage Road since the departure of Gianluca Vialli last month.

A first-team coach to work alongside Lewington will be appointed in the near future.

Having held management and coaching positions at a number of London clubs, Lewington moved to Watford to link up with Vialli in July 2001.

His most recent managerial role was at Brentford when the highlight of his seven-month reign was taking them to the final of the LDV Vans Trophy which they lost to Port Vale.

Lewington has also had spells in the managerial hotseat with Fulham - between July 1986 and June 1990 - and briefly with Crystal Palace.

As a player, he had spells with Chelsea, Wimbledon, Fulham and Sheffield United, and also made more than 30 appearances in Canada for Vancouver Whitecaps.

Peter Taylor and Tony Adams had been linked with the vacant position at Vicarage Road but the Hornets have decided against choosing a high-profile replacement for Vialli.

The Italian failed to get Watford in the promotion picture last season as they finished 14th and he paid the price when he was dismissed on June 14.