Watford intend to stick with Italian coach Walter Mazzarri next season despite a slump in form that has seen the team win only three of their last 16 games.
Watford were eighth after beating Everton in early December but have increasingly struggled for results since and have now dropped into 14th position.
The club have six less points than they did at the same stage of last season, when Spaniard Quique Sanchez Flores was dismissed after finishing 13th and reaching an FA Cup semi-final. Watford exited at the third round stage to League One Millwall this season.