Watford are confident that they will have a new head coach lined up before the end of the current season, the Watford Observer understands.

Efforts to hire a replacement for the outgoing Roy Hodgson were stepped up after last weekend's 2-1 home defeat to Burnley, with the club keen to find some much-needed stability.

Current boss Roy Hodgson is expected to see out this season as per his short-term contract, with his replacement ready to take over after the final game of the season, away at Chelsea on May 22.

Former club captain and current QPR and Republic of Ireland assistant John Eustace is one name on a very short list of candidates, with interviews expected to be conducted in the next week or two.

Whoever ends up in the dugout next season is expected to be given patience and the chance to build, something that previous incumbents have rarely been afforded.

Over the last three season, the club has had eight "full-time" head coaches in place, while suffering two relegations from the Premier League, either side of a successful promotion campaign in the Championship.

The aim for the new coach will of course be promotion, so it will be interesting to see just how patient the club is willing to be if things do not go according to plan immediately.

However, senior club sources have acknowledged a negative impact from constant managerial alterations and said they want that to change.