Jimmy Gilligan stepped away from his interim first-team role before Watford’s final home fixture of 2023/24 – but not before receiving the warmest of wishes from Head Coach Tom Cleverley.

“He’s been my mentor from day one of my coaching journey and I’m so thankful to him,” Cleverley said of Jimmy, who can once again focus fully on his role as the club’s Academy Head of Technical Development.

“It’s not just been Jimmy's advice that’s been a key part of this transition for me, it’s been the timing of his input, knowing when to keep back and when to step in when it’s been needed most.

“He’s been doing two jobs during this time; his own really important role in the Academy and also providing that experienced voice within our coaching set-up.”

    Tom continued to explain: “I see the fact that Jimmy’s heading back to the Academy as a key part of strengthening that connection and that pathway from there into the first-team squad. We both have a great understanding of how each other work – and this recent period of time has only benefited that.

“We’d both rather see a young player come up from the Academy as a bit of a project. Our young players know they have to be at the level and nothing is a given. But they know with my knowledge and Jimmy’s knowledge of the players that they’ve got a live chance. Much better to do that if we can than simply have to recruit a player of no better a level.

“Jimmy’s told me his door is always open, which is great to know from a mentoring perspective, and I’ve no doubt we’ll ensure our great relationship is focused on getting the best outcomes for this football club.”

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