Slavisa Jokanovic and Watford have a difference of opinion. That much is obvious. So where do they go from here? Their separate ways appears the only outcome.

A month ago that scenario would have appeared fanciful. The man who guided the Hornets to the Premier League leaving the club? No chance.

But 25 days after Watford’s players and staff celebrated promotion on an open-top bus parade through Cassiobury Park, the Hornets are planning for life without the Serbian.

His contract expires this summer and a new deal is highly unlikely to be agreed at this point.

Jokanovic is a strong person and demonstrated that throughout last season. He backs his convictions and is not easily swayed.

So when he said he wanted to be in charge at Watford next season you knew he meant it.

Hornets owner Gino Pozzo is similar to Jokanovic in that he makes decisions and sticks to them, no matter if they are unpopular.

He proved that last season by sacking Billy McKinlay eight days after the Scot was named head coach and replacing him with Jokanovic.

So the fact the Hornets offered Jokanovic an improved contract is a pretty good indication they wanted him to remain at Vicarage Road.

But here is that difference of opinion. Jokanovic deemed the offer as a poor one and asked Watford to stump up more money to keep him. Fair enough.

The Hornets do not agree and will not match the former Chelsea player’s demands. Again, fair enough.

Neither Jokanovic or Watford are wrong here. What one man deems a poor offer could be considered a generous deal by another. It is all subjective.

What it does mean is the Golden Boys are all but certain to start life in the Premier League with a new head coach.

Is it the ideal preparation for the Premier League? Of course not. Jokanovic knew his squad and knew how to handle the differing characters and egos.

He did it skilfully last season. Stopping five players training with the first team and in the process uniting the dressing room.

The 47-year-old was respected by the players – respect a new head coach will have to earn – and knew how to get the best out of his team, rather than relying on individuals to win matches.

That is, of course, not to say a new head coach won’t have the same qualities. But he will have to hit the ground running.

The Premier League is a ruthless place and a slow start would mean the Hornets face an even harder battle in their efforts to remain in the division.

But Pozzo has shown he can pick the right man to lead his Watford before, although there is something of a misconception when it comes to the Hornets owner.

The fact the Golden Boys are searching for their fifth head coach in the space of a year has been mentioned on numerous occasions by national media this week.

But Pozzo is not a reckless owner. He doesn’t dispense with head coaches on a whim. A quick look back over his history at Watford shows as much.

His first appointment, Gianfranco Zola, resigned after a poor run of results. Beppe Sannino also left by his own accord, although the Italian was understood to be on the brink of being sacked.

Sannino’s successor Oscar Garcia stood down due to health reasons and McKinlay was a rushed appointment which Pozzo rectified eight days later.

And now Jokanovic is set to depart at the end of his current contract after failing to agree a new deal. Hardly Pozzo wielding the axe, is it?

The Hornets owner is a smart man who makes decisions that are in the best interest of Watford. The Italian has proven that time and time again in the past three years at the club.

But picking the right man to lead his club in the Premier League may just be one of the most important choices he has had to make.

Get it right and Watford could establish themselves as a Premier League side and benefit from the riches that come with competing in the top flight.

Get it wrong and and the club face an inevitable question; should they have done more to keep Jokanovic, the man who got them there?