Billy McKinlay has been replaced as Watford’s head coach by former Chelsea midfielder Slavisa Jokanovic just eight days after he was appointed, the Watford Observer understands.

An unprecedented turn of events has seen the Hornets have four different head coaches in just over five weeks.

McKinlay was appointed just hours after Oscar Garcia handed in his shock resignation following health concerns and we have been told the Pozzos have since reviewed the decision and deemed that they want someone with more experience of being a head coach.

The Pozzos have built a squad to challenge for automatic promotion and we have been told they were reluctant to leave McKinlay in charge due to a fear they may have to replace him later in the season.

The Scot 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.

Jokanovic, on the other hand, has won three league titles at two different clubs and has managed in four countries.

The 46-year-old is the current head coach of Spanish third division side Hercules and is fluent in English, after a two-year spell with Chelsea between 2000 and 2002.

The departure of McKinlay, which comes after one win and a draw whilst in charge, is likely to be announced later today.

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.

The former Leicester City midfielder had yet to sign a contract as Watford’s head coach when he was informed that he would be replaced as boss yesterday.

Assistant coaches Ruben Martinez and Javier Pereira, who were appointed when Oscar was hired, are expected to remain on the coaching staff.

Jokanovic began his coaching career at lower league Spanish side Club Atlético de Pinto in the summer of 2007.

It was a brief spell with the club and the following December he was appointed FK Partizan - better known as Partizan Belgrade - head coach after Miroslav Djukic took charge of the Serbian national side.

Jokanovic joined Partizan with the team at the top of the Serbian SuperLiga. Under his guidance the club went on to win the title by five points and there was further success as they lifted the Serbian Cup.

Partizan’s success saw Jokanovic selected as the ‘Best Coach in Serbia’ in 2008.

However, he refused to receive the award after his side failed to qualify for the Champions League group stages and struggled in the UEFA Cup.

But domestic success continued for the former Chelsea midfielder. In his first full season with the club, he guided the side to another league title. They finished 19 points ahead of second-placed Vojvodina.

They again clinched the Serbian Cup and Jokanovic became the first Partizan coach to successfully defend the double.

On September 5, 2009, Jokanovic left Partizan by mutual consent following a boardroom dispute.

His next managerial role didn’t come until February 2012. He joined Thai side SCG Muangthong United and signed a one-year deal with the option of a further two years.

He was tasked with regaining the Thai Premier League title and succeeded, winning the division by 14 points and remaining undefeated.

He left Muangthong at the end of the campaign and in July 2013 joined Bulgarian club Levski Sofia. He wasn’t able to sustain his previous success, however, and departed the following October due to poor results.

He joined Spanish side Hercules in the summer on a one-year contract and he leaves with the Herculeans leading the Segunda Division B Group 3 standings after seven matches.