The Hornets have reduced Alec Chamberlain’s role with the first team and he will now rarely travel to away matches, the Watford Observer understands.

Chamberlain is a club stalwart having worked for the Golden Boys for 18 years as a player and goalkeeping coach.

But his role altered following the arrival of Beppe Sannino’s goalkeeping coach Paolo De Toffol in December and his first-team responsibilities have changed further since the appointment of Slavisa Jokanovic.

The new Hornets head coach was keen to cut down on the number of staff travelling to away matches and also in the changing room on matchdays.

That was indicated this week after the club removed the team’s second dugout at Vicarage Road. Chamberlain is one of those affected.

We have been told he will have a flexible role which will include scouting goalkeepers when the Golden Boys have first team matches.

The 50-year-old is still part of the first-team coaching set-up as De Toffol’s assistant but he will increase the amount of work he already does with the academy.