WATFORD are set appoint Roy Hodgson as their new manager until the end of the season, the PA news agency reported today.

The Hornets sacked Claudio Ranieri on Monday after only 16 weeks in charge following a nine-game run without a win.

A 3-0 defeat at home to relegation rivals Norwich on Friday saw Watford drop into the Premier League bottom three for the first time this season and the club’s owners have turned to the veteran ex-England boss instead.

Hodgson has worked with the trigger-happy Pozzo family before during a short stint with Udinese in 2001 which ended with his dismissal following 17 matches. However, the 74-year-old has always retained good relations with the Italian owners and is set to sign a deal for the remainder of the season with the option to extend the terms beyond the current campaign if survival is secured.

Watford are 19th in the table with 14 points from 20 games and two points from safety having already dismissed Xisco Munoz in October.

Hodgson stepped down from his role as Crystal Palace boss in May after four seasons in charge of his boyhood club following 11th, 12th and back-to-back 14th-place finishes in the top flight.

Hodgson is expected to take trusty assistant Ray Lewington, an ex-Hornets manager, with him to Vicarage Road.