Watford FC Zola press conference live blog

The main points so far:

• Stephen McGinn signs new one-year contract with Hornets with option to extend for another year.
• Zola praises Sean Dyche.
• New chief executive, Scott Duxbury, wants Adrian Mariappa to stay.

7.00pm We are signing off for tonight. Follow our Twitter feed @Observer_Owl for further Watford FC updates. For more on those one-to-one interviews stay tuned to the site or see Friday's Watford Observer.

6.57pm - It looks like things are winding down at Vicarage Road. Great to see Hornets fans reaction to the conference tonight and Watford FC trending high on Twitter.

6.46pm - @D_C_W just tweeted "Blimey. I don't think it's hit me till now. Zola. Gianfranco Zola is our manager. Bloody mental. Bring on the new season."

6.43pm Our reporter Frank Smith is busy doing one-on-one interviews. Already overwhelmingly positive reaction coming in from Hornets fans to the conference.

6.433pm - The main press conference is finished. Zola, Nani and Duxbury are doing group interviews with various media outlets. Will bring you more as we get it.

6.28pm - Looks like they want Adrian Mariappa to stay at Watford. Duxbury says he met Mariappa's agent yesterday. Wants him to stay and explained 'project' but there are Premier League clubs interested.

6.26pm - Regarding future signings Zola says he and Nani will work together. 'Gian Luca to look for players to fit into my system'

6.24pm - Zola says 'if I didn't have anything to prove I wouldn't be here'.

6.22pm - Zola added he 'know[s] there will be tough games but I'm not afraid'.

6.20pm - But Zola adds 'needs to assess what I've got' to see if he can do what he wants to regarding the team.

6.18pm - Zola has 'been told team is going to be strengthened' but points out they will be starting from a decent base with the 11th place finish last season.

6.17pm - Gianfranco admits 'it's not going to be easy' re style because of nature of division. But he says there will be 'no compromises'.

6.15pm - Zola says he will 'try to get team playing as nice as possible' when asked about style.

6.14pm - Zola says he has 'respect' and 'admiration' for job Sean Dyche did at Watford FC last season.

6.13pm - Zola calls Watford FC 'new' and 'interesting' challenge and admits he's better prepared compared to West Ham.

6.11pm - First question is on coaching staff. Zola says he's 'assessing situation' with regard to backroom staff. Confirms Chamberlain and Springham are staying at Watford FC.

6.09pm - Zola, Duxbury and Nani are now in place and ready to take questions.

6.07pm - @ElliottSDay just tweeted "@Observer_Owl Zola 1 Vialli 0 in the down to earth guy race."

6.04pm - We have just heard Gianfranco has made it to the stadium. Hopefully proceedings should be starting shortly.

6.02pm - While we wait. Looks like the pitch at Vicarage Road is coming along nicely. Owl tweeted this picture earlier.

6.00pm - @Mc_Chap just tweeted "@Observer_Owl He's only got little legs could be a while!"

5.58pm - Zola travel update: apparently he has abandoned motor transport and is making his way to Vicarage Road on foot. Any commuters in West Watford keep an eye out.

5.56pm - Twitter user @rootytooty11 has just asked: "@Observer_Owl wouldn't be a #watfordfc press conference without a question about the East Stand surely?"

5.54pm - Still waiting for conference to start. Have had it confirmed Zola, Duxbury and Nani are stuck in the traffic caused by an accident on the ring road.

5.50pm - Another twitter question, @Anaesthetize wants to know of Zola: "if #WatfordFC were promoted to the premiership could he foresee #Udinese being a feeder club to us?"

5.50pm - Just had this picture of the waiting media at Vicarage Road tweeted from @Observer_Owl.

5.48pm - @WFCforums just tweeted "Frank, are you going to ask about Troy Deeney's future?"

5.43pm - more questions coming in from Hornets fans. @StuartJohnBrown just tweeted "Also how Zola sees the club as a part of the community and how he will strengthen this bond?"

5.39pm - The top table is ready and waiting at Vicarage Road.

5.39pm - @SimonNRicketts has just tweeted: "@Observer_Owl Zola's probably late because he's gone on a mazy run."

5.37pm - Our deputy sports editor Frank Smith and sports editor Anthony Matthews are in place and waiting the conference to start. Looks like Zola, Nani and Duxbury may have been delayed by traffic caused by serious accident on the ring road.

5.28pm - Breaking news: It’s just been announced that Stephen McGinn has signed a new one year deal with Watford today with an option held by the Hornets for a subsequent year. So that’s one question already answered.

5.28pm - Questions already coming in from Hornets fans over Twitter. @BigAIG just asked: "Don't forget to ask - Red or Black shorts? ;)"

5.22pm - Tonight will be the first opportunity for questions to be put to the club’s new Pozzo family regime since their takeover from previous owner Laurence Bassini last month.

5.19pm - The conference is set to start at 5.30pm tonight and Watford’s new technical director Gianluca Nani and chief executive Scott Duxbury will also be there to answer questions.

5.15pm - Welcome to the Watford Observer’s live blog Gianfranco Zola’s first press conference as Watford FC manager. Stay tune for all the latest updates from Vicarage Road this evening.