Editing Watford F.C. (section)

===Return to the Premier League===
Watford finished third in the league in Boothroyd's [[2005–06 Watford F.C. season|first full season]],<ref name=recentseasons/> and defeated [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] 3–0 in the [[2006 Football League Championship play-off Final|play-off final]] to gain promotion to the [[Premier League]].<ref name=Leedsplayoff/> But the team did not record a Premier League win until November, and [[Ashley Young]] was sold to Aston Villa for a club record fee of £9.65&nbsp;million in January 2007.<ref name="wfcrecords"/><ref name="bbcsellyoung">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/6277389.stm|title=Young completes £9.65m Villa move|work=BBC Sport |access-date=27 October 2009|date=23 January 2007}}</ref> Watford finished bottom after only winning five league games,<ref name=recentseasons/> but did reach the semi-finals of the [[FA Cup]].<ref>McNulty, Phil (14 April 2007). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/6534697.stm "Watford 1–4 Man Utd"]. BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 May 2012.</ref> Boothroyd continued as manager, and spent heavily on players, including a then-club record £3.25&nbsp;million for [[Nathan Ellington]].<ref name="bbcbuyellington">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/6969399.stm|title=Watford sign Ellington for £3.25m|work=BBC Sport |access-date=27 October 2009 | date=29 August 2007}}</ref> Watford led the Championship by several points early in [[2007–08 Watford F.C. season|2007–08]], but only finished sixth;<ref name=recentseasons/> Boothroyd's team were defeated 6–1 on aggregate by [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]] in the play-off semi-finals.<ref>McNulty, Phil (14 May 2008). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7393756.stm "Hull 4–1 Watford (agg 6–1)"]. BBC Sport. Retrieved 24 April 2012.</ref> Boothroyd left the club by mutual consent three months into the [[2008–09 Watford F.C. season|2008–09 season]], with Watford 21st in the Championship table.<ref name=boothroydsummary>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/7707054.stm|title=Boothroyd leaves Watford position|work=BBC Sport |access-date=27 October 2009 | date=3 November 2008}}</ref>

Under Boothroyd's successor, [[Brendan Rodgers]], Watford finished 13th. Rodgers left to manage [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] at the end of the season;<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/8081467.stm "Rodgers confirmed as Reading boss"]. BBC Sport. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2012.</ref> [[Malky Mackay]], who had previously served as caretaker manager, was his replacement.<ref name=MM>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/watford/8098749.stm "Mackay appointed Watford manager"]. BBC Sport. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref> Amid the departures of several key players during Mackay's tenure, including [[Tommy Smith (footballer, born 1980)|Tommy Smith]] and [[Jay DeMerit]], and the club coming close to [[Administration (British football)|administration]],<ref>Parker, Ian (16 December 2009). [https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/watford-on-brink-of-administration-1842309.html "Watford on brink of administration"]. ''The Independent''. Retrieved 19 April 2012.</ref> Watford finished 16th in [[2009–10 Watford F.C. season|2009–10]] and 14th the [[2010–11 Watford F.C. season|following season]].<ref name=managers2>{{Cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=2741&comp_id=2#teamTabs=managers|title=Watford manager history|publisher=Centurycomm|work=[[Soccerbase]]|access-date=10 March 2011}}</ref> Mackay left to manage [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] in June 2011 and was replaced by [[Sean Dyche]].<ref name=MMCC>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13680791.stm|title=Cardiff City appoint Watford's Malky Mackay as manager|work=BBC Sport  |access-date=17 June 2011|date=17 June 2011}}</ref> Despite presiding over Watford's highest league position in four years by finishing 11th, Dyche was dismissed as Watford manager in July 2012.<ref>Matthews, Anthony (6 July 2012). [http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/9804084.Hornets_terminate_Dyche_s_contract/ "Hornets terminate Dyche's contract"]. ''Watford Observer'' Retrieved 14 July 2012.</ref>