Watford are close to appointing the former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson as their new head coach.



Parties are currently negotiating details of a contract that is likely to see him take charge initially until the end of the season.



The 56-year-old was among a number of British and European coaches being considered with Watford hopeful of having the new man ready to take training early next week before the trip to Liverpool on December 14.



Pearson’s name was among a group of managers who were waiting to see if they were going to be successful in the process, which has gone against the usual Pozzo model of quick replacements. Quique Sanchez Flores was sacked on December 1 while, under the Pozzos, Watford have previously tended to appoint a new head coach without Premier League experience from elsewhere in Europe.



Hayden Mullins is expected to take charge of the team on a temporary basis for one further match against Crystal Palace —...