Malky Mackay appears to be the fans favourite to become the next Watford manager after almost 1,000 people voted in the Watford Observer’s online poll on the first day.

The Scot has not received unanimous backing from the supporters though and his lead is marginal with 30 per cent of the votes.

Second place in the poll is tied between former Hornets Andy Hessenthaler and Nigel Gibbs and fans who want a candidate not mentioned on the list.

All three of the above received 21 per cent of the votes, with former Watford goalkeeper Tony Coton some way behind on seven per cent.

This seems slightly surprising considering Coton was interviewed for the job last time around and has a decade of experience working with none other than Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.

Coton is known to have a superb relationship with Ferguson so will the prospect of possibly having some of United’s starlets at the Vic next season see him rise in the rankings in the coming days?

Candidate % Votes Malky Mackay 30% 295 Andy Hessenthaler 21% 211 Tony Coton 7% 64 Nigel Gibbs 21% 208 Other 21% 204

You can still vote on who you want to be the next Hornets manager by going to the Watford FC section of the Watford Observer’s website.