Most managers are shown the door after finishing bottom of the Barclays Premiership, but Watford showed their faith in Adrian Boothroyd yesterday by rewarding him with a new three-year contract.

Watford were in danger of being relegated to Coca-Cola League One when Boothroyd replaced Ray Lewington in March 2005, but the Yorkshireman guided the club to the top flight, via the Championship play-offs, in his first full season in charge, before hitting a brick wall in the shape of the Premiership.

“I’m thrilled to be committing my immediate future to Watford,” Boothroyd, 36, said. “I’m a great believer in stability and it is important that our thinking goes beyond the short term.”

Unable to attract players with top-flight experience to bolster his side’s survival prospects, Boothroyd has, for the most part, been forced to shop in the bargain basement and as a consequence, Watford struggled to adapt to the Premiership. A return of only five wins from 37 matches would have meant dismissal for a less ambitious or evangelical manager than Boothroyd.

“I was given a chance in 2005 and I think loyalty works both ways,” Boothroyd, who has been linked with the England Under21 job, said. “We have great ambitions and, with continuity, I can only see good things in the future.”

Wigan will be relegated if they fail to beat Sheffield United on Sunday, but will be safe with a victory. West Ham United will be relegated if they lose away to Manchester United while Wigan win away to Sheffield United, unless Wigan’s victory is at least three goals larger than West Ham’s defeat, in which case Sheffield United go down. Sheffield United go down if they lose to Wigan while West Ham avoid defeat away to Manchester United; or if they lose to Wigan by at least three goals more than West Ham lose at Old Trafford.