The door is yet to close on Walter Mazzarri's Watford career but the proverbial ring is already full of hats containing the names of potential replacements for the top job at Vicarage Road.

Applicants hoping for a long stint in Hertfordshire probably need not apply, with the average tenure of head coaches under the Pozzo regime a meagre nine months, but as always with football - maybe the next one will be different.

Gino Pozzo's contacts around Europe mean there is always the chance of a leftfield appointment surprising everyone.

But looking back on the experimental appointment of Mazzarri, who had little grasp of English football, culture or language, Pozzo will be likely to look closer to home this time around.

Here's the runners and riders in the early stages of the annual Watford managerial merry-go-round (odds courtesy of SkyBet.com).

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LEONID SLUTSKY - Evens

A name which has appeared from nowhere into Watford spheres over the past few days, Slutsky has never managed outside of his native Russia.

Most recently, he was in charge of the Russian national team and led them to Euro 2016 - only to finish bottom of a group containing England, Wales and Slovakia.

He coupled that role with a seven-year spell at the helm of CSKA Moscow, leading the capital-based club to three Russian Premier League titles.

Slutsky reportedly has his eye on a job in England, and has been attending games around the country with the help from close friend and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovic.

Despite his early frontrunner status, his managerial limitations represent more of the same as Mazzarri and he is far from a guaranteed favourite.

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CLAUDIO RANIERI - 6/4

The former Leicester boss, less than a year on from winning the Premier League with the Foxes, is back looking for work after his unceremonious removal in February.

His next appointment will represent his 17th different club or country, and his experience at the top level is undoubted, having taken charge of Roma, Juventus, Valencia, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea down the years.

However, the relegation form which Leicester found themselves in at the time of his dismissal may concern Pozzo, so too his disastrous spell in charge of Greece prior to joining the Foxes.

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MARCO SILVA - 3/1

From little-known Portguese manager to one of the hottest properties in the Premier League, it has not taken Silva long to build up a reputation in England.

While he could not save Hull City from relegation in four and a half months with the Tigers, he drastically improved the fortunes of a team who seemed nailed on for the drop and gave them a fighting chance up until last weekend.

Silva is out of contract at the KCOM Stadium in the summer and is likely to be highly sought as a result, meaning Watford could face a battle for his signature.

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ALAN PARDEW - 10/1

Pards, as he is known by his club tracksuits, has as much Premier League experience as anyone else in the running for the Watford job.

Having been out of work since his sacking by Crystal Palace earlier this season, the 55-year-old is likely to be receptive to any available top-flight position.

But there are question marks over the former West Ham, Newcastle and Charlton man's man management, as in recent seasons his sides have habitually fallen away after a bright start - something Pozzo is all too familiar with at Vicarage Road.

Pardew's conduct could also prove a problem for the Watford heirarchy, after high-profile run-ins with David Meyler, as well as some of the Premier League's finest linesmen down the years.