Slavisa Jokanovic: No hard feelings over departure

Former Watford boss Slavisa Jokanovic has said he left Vicarage Road because he felt he was no longer wanted by the club.

Jokanovic - who has since been appointed as the new manager of Israeli treble winners Maccabi Tel Aviv - led Watford to the Premier League last season after they finished runners-up to Bournemouth in the Sky Bet Championship.

But he failed to agree a new deal with owner Gino Pozzo and was subsequently replaced by Quique Sanchez Flores as Watford prepare for top-flight football for the first time in eight years.

Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Jokanovic said: "I felt he didn't have a real will to renew my contract. My priority was to stay at Watford after promotion. It made sense to think that way.

Former Atletico Madrid boss Quique Sanchez Flores has replaced Slavisa Jokanovic at Watford

"What happened next made me realise there was no real intention to renew my contract. There was a first contact but there wasn't a follow-up from him, which should be normal in any negotiation process. After waiting, I assumed that I had to move on."

It was reported that the club offered Jokanovic a basic salary of £1m - while he wanted a three-year deal worth £2.5m a season; Jokanovic says those claims are far from the truth.

He said: "I never demanded a pay rise like that. I simply understood that we all deserved to improve our terms after the team's success and the promotion to the Premier League.

Graham Taylor is surprised by his former side's frequent change of manager Graham Taylor is surprised by his former side's frequent change of manager

"I felt I was being offered probably half of the lowest wages of a manager in the Premier League."

Despite the troubled end to his eight-month tenure in Hertfordshire, Jokanovic insists he bears no ill-will to the club and the supporters.

He said: "I am not resentful. Watford will always have a special place in my heart. The players, the staff and the fans treated me in an exceptional manner."