Former Watford owner Elton John has broken his silence on the club's deteriorating Championship season, saying he is "upset and disappointed" after a run that has left the Hertfordshire side sitting in 20th place in the second tier.

John's comments came in a since-deleted response to a club post on Instagram, in which he wrote: "As a lifetime supporter of Watford FC, I am very upset and disappointed at the decline over the past few weeks. I really feel for the supporters who have to watch this."

The catalyst appears to have been Saturday's 4-0 home defeat to Burnley, a result that extended Watford's losing run to three consecutive Championship fixtures and five defeats from their last six. The Hornets were 3-0 down inside 25 minutes, a first-half capitulation that prompted widespread criticism from supporters and club figures alike.

A pattern that predates this season

Watford appointed Alessio Dionisi as manager in June on a two-year deal, making the Italian their 12th head coach (not counting interim appointments) since the end of the 2020-21 campaign. That statistic alone tells a story. The club has not finished higher than 11th in the Championship since being relegated from the top flight in 2022, and each season has brought renewed talk of potential, followed by underperformance.

Dionisi's side actually began the current campaign in reasonable shape, beating Southampton at Vicarage Road and drawing away at Wrexham and at home to West Ham in their opening fixtures. Since then, their only win has been a 2-1 home victory over Preston last month. The momentum that looked plausible in the autumn has evaporated.

Deeney adds to the pressure

John was not alone in voicing concern. Former club captain Troy Deeney, who scored 140 goals in 319 appearances for the Hornets, posted on X that "the writing is on the wall and has been for months." Deeney cited "removing talent," "allowing for poor standards," and "a lack of accountability" as underlying problems, later adding that he was "never bitter, sometimes angry at what I see."

That kind of public criticism, from figures as prominent as John and Deeney, is difficult for any club board to absorb quietly. Whatever its intent, it amplifies the pressure on Dionisi and those running the club at a point when results have already made that pressure acute.

Duxbury's warning and the question of accountability

Speaking on an official club podcast this week, chairman Scott Duxbury delivered what read as a pre-emptive admission of previous failure. "I'm tired of seasons where we say on paper we've got a great team and we fade away," he said. "This year, no excuses, we've got to achieve our potential and have a successful season."

It is the kind of language that sounds decisive in isolation but sits uncomfortably alongside the pattern of managerial turnover and inconsistency the club has accumulated. Twelve head coaches in the space of roughly four years is not a record that suggests a stable footballing structure behind the scenes. Whether the current regime is willing to make the deeper changes that Deeney and others appear to be calling for remains to be seen.

Wider context: a club with history and a difficult present

John's connection to Watford stretches back to his childhood and his first spell as owner, during which the club rose from the fourth tier to second in the old Division One, reaching European football under Graham Taylor. His return in the mid-1990s brought further success, including promotion to the top flight in 1999. He relinquished control for the second time in 2002 and has a stand named after him at Vicarage Road.

That history means his words carry weight in Hertfordshire, and his frustration is likely to resonate widely among a fanbase that has watched its club cycle through managers and near-misses without sustained progress. The Championship is an unforgiving division; sitting 20th after a run of one point from a possible 18 is a serious position, not merely a blip. Watford's next fixtures will go a long way to determining whether Dionisi has the time and the support to turn things around.

Frequently asked

Why is Elton John upset with Watford?
Elton John, a former owner and lifelong supporter of Watford, posted on Instagram that he was 'upset and disappointed' by the club's recent form, which has seen them lose five of their last six Championship matches, including a 4-0 home defeat to Burnley.
Where are Watford in the Championship table?
Watford are currently sitting in 20th place in the Championship after three consecutive league defeats. They have picked up just one point from their last six fixtures.
Who is Watford's manager and how long has he been in charge?
Alessio Dionisi was appointed Watford manager in June on a two-year contract. He is the club's 12th head coach (excluding interim bosses) since the end of the 2020-21 season.