Watford started the season with four managers in place at Vicarage Road in the space of 37 days, making Nottingham Forest's hotseat look like a model of stability.
But, amidst all the changes, the Hornets had begun well on the pitch and October's arrival of Slavisa Jokanovic has seen that form continue throughout the campaign.
And now the club's owners, the Pozzo family, are on the verge of seeing their Premier League ambitions satisfied with Easter Monday's win at Middlesbrough followed by three points at Millwall leaving Watford outside the top two on goal difference only ahead of Tuesday night's games.