Forest Green Rovers confirm Rob Edwards Watford talks

The League Two champions have this afternoon released a statement saying that they were "disappointed" with his decision to speak to the Hornets and said that the approach had been carried out "behind their backs".

The statement reads: "FGR confirms the departure of Head Coach Rob Edwards. Rob was a key part of the team that gained promotion to League One this season. We’re disappointed that our support, loyalty and honesty towards Rob has been repaid in this way - with negotiations taking place behind our backs.

"We had no contact from Watford, from whom we might expect less, but in any event this kind of behaviour gives football a bad name.

"We thank Rob for all his work at FGR - forgive him the manner of his departure and wish him well."

Rovers' chairman Dale Vince told Sky Sports that the first he knew of the conversations between Edwards and Watford was last night (Tuesday) when he confronted the coach after ongoing media speculation.

"I first heard last night when I called Rob because the media speculation had become quite intense," said Vince.

"And for the last week or so, we've been saying this can't be right because, on the one hand, Watford would have contacted us, which would be the right way to go about it. And secondly, Rob hadn't said anything. We know Rob and have absolute faith in him, that if he'd had an approach that he was interested in, he would have told me .

"I called him last night because it was getting a bit intense and as soon as he started speaking, I knew that it was real.

"[He told me] that he had been in negotiations, that it was a great opportunity for him and that he felt a bit bad about it and it was all a bit like intense for him.

"I said, overwhelmingly, the thing for me is just disappointment that you didn't tell me because people come and go in football all of the time. The important thing is the manner of it, and to have a negotiation happen behind your back, is not a nice thing."