New Watford head coach Slavisa Jokanovic says he was speaking to the Hornets for several days before replacing Billy McKinlay on Tuesday.

McKinlay’s brief reign as head coach at Vicarage Road was ended after just eight days earlier this week, with former Chelsea midfielder Jokanovic, who has agreed a contract until the end of the season, now charged with leading the Golden Boys’ promotion bid.

McKinlay was named Watford boss last week, just hours after Oscar Garcia handed in his shock resignation due to health concerns.

However, we have been told the Pozzos reviewed that decision and decided that they wanted someone with more experience of being a head coach.

That man is 46-year-old Jokanovic. Speaking to the Watford Observer yesterday (Thursday), the Serbian said serious discussions with Gino Pozzo regarding taking charge at Watford began on Sunday.

However, he added: “There were some conversations about working at Watford many days before.

“Really on Sunday was the first time I had news from Watford saying: ‘We are really interested in you coming here’.”

The former Chelsea midfielder continued: “I spoke with Gino. I don’t know really what happened before.

“It’s a little bit of a strange situation. One coach has gone and another coach has gone for certain reasons.

“A third and fourth coach have now come, but in football it is normal that somebody loses their job and somebody else starts working here.

“I spoke about the possibility of working here and this situation happened very fast.”

McKinlay was told he would be replaced on Monday. We understand the Pozzos were reluctant to keep the Scot in charge due to a fear they may have to replace him later in the season.

McKinlay has ten years of experience as a coach at Fulham, where he worked with England boss Roy Hodgson among others, but the Watford role was McKinlay’s first as a manager or head coach.

We have been told Watford were keen for McKinlay to remain at the club as first team coach, which was the role he was initially hired for on September 26, but that the 45-year-old refused the demotion.

We understand he received a significant pay-off from the club for his 11 days at Watford.

Jokanovic was asked yesterday if he was aware at just how short a time McKinlay had been in charge of the Hornets.

He replied: “This is not a question for me. I arrived here and Watford were without a coach. This is a question about the coach before me.

“If you are interested in this situation you must speak with the club because I have been in another country and I don’t really know how I can explain this situation.”