Misaligned philosophies ultimately cost Walter Mazzarri his job as Watford's head coach, in the words of chief executive Scott Duxbury, the instigator of his departure.

Duxbury, also the club's chairman, told BBC Five Live Mazzarri's philosophies had been different from the club's heirarchy which had left his position untenable.

That followed on from Wednesday's announcement that today's game with Manchester City would be the Italian's last.

Duxbury implied communication issues had been a significant factor behind the decision to relieve Mazzarri of his position, and said there had been a "lack of connection" between the head coach and both club fanbase and wider media.

"We are looking for someone who embodies the philosophy of the club and is its ultimate ambassador," he said of the Hornets' next appointment.

"We are doing a lot of good stuff off the pitch, in the community, and in the past year that has been lost a little bit. We’ve lost a little bit of our voice.

"The new coach will come in and give us that identity, that voice, about what a lot of people at this club are doing and we’re not getting the credit for, for a number of reasons."

Duxbury defended the Hornets' penchant for dispensing of head coaches in the summer, having now confirmed they will have a new man at the helm for the third year in succession come the start of 2017/18.

He said: "Every campaign, we have started and finished with the same coach. There have been many teams who have reacted, because results have forced them to do that. We’ve never done that.

"At the end of the season, we have made a sensible, rational analysis of where we want to go in the next season, and that has resulted in a change. During the season, we have backed the coach fully, we would never interfere with team selection.

"We have long-term goals and we would like the coach to be aligned to that, but for the coach we bring in, it has to be all about what can we achieve this season.

"It’s not about him developing the academy or the infrastructure, we want him to develop the first-team squad that’s given to him, and get the best out of it."