Brendan Rodgers has left Watford after just 192 days to become Reading manager despite apparently claiming he was “100 per cent committed” to the Hornets just last week.

Rodgers took his first managerial position with the Hornets on November 24 but after steering them to 13th place, he has taken over at his adopted home town club.

Watford could eventually receive almost £1 million for Rodgers and the Watford Observer understands that assistant manager Dean Austin, football consultant Frank Lampard Snr and football physiologist Karl Halabi will also move to the Madejski Stadium in the near future.

The Hornets will receive an initial fee of more than £500,000 and then almost £1 million should Reading gain promotion to the Premier League.

Watford chairman Jimmy Russo said: “Following speculation over the Reading vacancy I had spoken to Brendan only last week and he had assured me that he was 100 per cent committed to Watford FC and our plan for the future.

“Once Brendan had confirmed his desire to discuss the opportunity and Reading had met a contractual compensation figure, we were powerless to prevent him doing so.

“I then spent up until Monday evening negotiating with Reading a vastly improved compensation package in excess of £500,000 with additional payments totalling in the region of £1m, based on Reading’s future success.

“We also had a frank and open conversation with the manager on Monday afternoon to further understand his position. It was at this stage he strongly reinforced his desire to talk to Reading.”

Rodgers has been favourite to take over at the Madejski Stadium since Steve Coppell’s resignation three weeks ago.

The 36 year old distanced himself from the rumours initially but the lure of Reading was always going to be an attractive proposition to the Northern Irishman.

He has lived in the town since he joined the club as a player at 16 and after his career ended prematurely four years later, he went on to become the Royals’ Academy director before moving to Chelsea in 2004.

Rodgers continued to have a good relationship with chairman John Madejski following his departure and is friends with director of football Nick Hammond, who was in charge of finding Coppell’s replacement.

Watford’s first team coach Malky Mackay, goalkeeping coach Alec Chamberlain and the rest of the coaching staff are expected to remain at Watford for the time being.