Slavisa Jokanovic is adamant Watford “didn’t have a real will” to renew his contract this summer and says the Hornets did not enter negotiations to extend his deal after he rejected their first offer.

The 46-year-old joined the Golden Boys in October on a short-term contract and, after a shaky start, went on to guide the club into the Premier League.

Jokanovic’s contract at Watford expired this summer but the Serbian stated on several occasions towards the end of last season that he wanted to remain at Vicarage Road.

However, two weeks after the Hornets ended their Championship campaign the former Chelsea player revealed he and the club were “not close” to agreeing terms.

It is a position that didn’t change. Sources close to Jokanovic stated Watford’s initial offer would have seen his salary increase by £1000 a week.

It was a deal Jokanovic turned down and he claims the Hornets - and owner Gino Pozzo - made no further attempts to keep him at the club. “I felt he (Pozzo) didn’t have a real will to renew my contract,” Jokanovic told The Sun.

“My priority was to stay at Watford after promotion. It made sense to think that way.

“What happened next made me realise there was no real intention to renew my contract.

“There was a first contact but there wasn’t a follow-up from him, which should be normal in any negotiation process. After waiting, I assumed that I had to move on.”

It was then revealed Watford had lined up Spaniard Quique Sanchez Flores to take charge of the Golden Boys if they could not agree a new deal with Jokanovic.

The Hornets, who have not commented on negotiations, were believed to have subsequently offered Jokanovic a basic salary of £1million plus significant bonuses.

It was reported Jokanovic turned that offer down and asked for a three-year deal worth £2.5 million a season.

The former Hornets boss strongly refutes that. He said: “I never demanded a pay rise like that. I can guarantee you that it is completely false.

“I simply understood that we all deserved to improve our terms after the team’s success and the promotion to the Premier League.

“But the first proposal from the owner didn’t reflect a real will for me to stay.

“In fact, they never opened a negotiation process, which proved that my impression was right.

“I felt I was being offered probably half of the lowest wages of a manager in the Premier League.”

Watford went on to appoint Flores while Jokanovic was unveiled as the new head coach of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv at the start of last week.

And while Jokanovic will not be attempting to keep the club in the top flight next season, he says the Hornets hold a special place in his heart and hopes the Golden Boys will remain in the Premier League.

He explained: “I’m not resentful. Watford will always have a special place in my heart. The players, the staff and the fans treated me in an exceptional manner.

“The support they always showed me, their loyalty and their encouragement were spectacular.

“I will always wish the best to everyone at Watford. I really want them to stay in the Premier League.

“They have deserved to be up there for a long time.”

Watford declined to comment when contacted by the Watford Observer this morning.