Watford are refusing to comment on claims Cristiano Giaretta has agreed a new contract to remain as Sporting Director at Vicarage Road.

It was reported at the weekend stated that the Italian will remain in the position on a new three-year deal and will continue to work alongside Technical Director Ben Manga.

Asked whether the Italian had agreed a new contract, a spokesman said the club would not comment on employee matters.

When Manga joined the Hornets towards the end of last year, the Watford Observer reported there would be clear demarcation between the two roles.

While the Technical Director oversees areas such as scouting and player identification and forms part of the group that decides which players to buy or sell, Giaretta’s role has been more administrative, supporting the head coach and his staff to ensure they have what they need, both at the London Colney training ground and on matchdays.

Giaretta has been in post at Vicarage Road since 2020, having moved from CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria. He first worked with the Pozzo family at Udinese in 2013 where he was Sporting Director for three years before joining Ascoli.

It looked like the Italian’s time at Vicarage Road had come to an end last September when we reported that more influence over wider football aspects of the club was set to be given to then head coach Rob Edwards.

In a dramatic turn of events though, it was Edwards who was axed later that month by owner Gino Pozzo, who also reversed the decision to remove Giaretta.