Pozzos reveal Watford blueprint

The Italian-based Pozzo family completed their takeover of the Hornets on Friday and Giampaolo Pozzo told Sky Italia on Sunday that Dyche would be leaving the club and that Gianfranco Zola had verbally agreed to become the new manager.

In a statement on watfordfc.com, the Pozzo family, who own both Italian Serie A side Udinese and Spanish La Liga outfit Granada, told Watford fans: "Our vision of how we should be involved in professional football is to provide financial and technical support, so that success can be achieved over the long term.

"We are here for the long term. This is not a case of a foreign owner with an injection of money looking for a quick return. Our aim is clear: we wish to establish Watford as a Premier League club, which has revenue to help it become self-sufficient over time.

"There are no promises of timescale; only that is our stated ambition to be in the Premier League so that everyone connected with Watford, all of us, can enjoy a successful and sustainable future.

"Longevity to us is key to success. It is only over many years that success can be judged. We have owned Udinese, in Italy, for 25 years. And we have a second project, part of the Pozzo group, in Granada, Spain. Both clubs have enjoyed success and are sustainable businesses."