Walter Mazzarri has stubbed out claims he smoked in the club’s dressing room during a pre-season match.

The Hornets’ new head coach was alleged to have smoked at half-time during the friendly defeat at Queens Park Rangers last month.

But the Hornets boss dismissed the report insisting he did not smoke in front of his players in the middle of the match.

Mazzarri said: “First of all, I want to say it’s not true that I was smoking inside the dressing room.

“This was pure invention. Yes, nobody is perfect and I do smoke but I want to say that I always have respect for the person that is next to me and if they tells me not to then I won’t.”

Watford’s head coach was asked if he would be willing to let his players smoke.

But Mazzarri was unequivocal in his response and insists he is not prepared to let his squad or family follow his lead.

He replied: “No. Not my players, and not even my son.

“But because of the job I do and I think in life sometimes there are moments where small things make you feel better and one of them for me is smoking.

“I’m the first one to admit it’s not good.”