The 2008–09 season was their second consecutive one in the
Football League Championship, following relegation from the
Premier League in 2006–07. They reached the fifth round of both the
League Cup and
FA Cup, where they were eliminated by Premier League sides
Tottenham Hotspur and
Chelsea respectively. Both teams went on to reach the finals of the corresponding competitions, with Chelsea going on to win the
2009 FA Cup Final. Off the pitch, there were a series of personnel changes through the course of the season. Chairman
Graham Simpson and chief executive Mark Ashton resigned, and were replaced by Jimmy Russo and
Julian Winter respectively. Following a decline in form throughout 2008, manager
Aidy Boothroyd left the club by mutual consent, and was replaced by
Brendan Rodgers. In turn, Rodgers controversially left the club a few weeks after the last game of the season, having previously suggested that rumours linking him to Reading were "questioning his integrity". His replacement was first team coach and former player
Malky Mackay. The season is perhaps best remembered for the "
ghost goal" incident, which occurred in a league match against
Reading on 20 September 2008. Following a corner from Reading player
Stephen Hunt,
John Eustace kicked the ball across the line, level with the
six-yard box. Initially, linesman Nigel Bannister seemed to signal for a goal kick, and players from both sides ran away from the penalty area, waiting for goalkeeper
Scott Loach to take it. However, Bannister walked over to referee
Stuart Attwell, and after a brief discussion, Attwell awarded Reading a goal. The match eventually finished 2–2. The match also marked Loach's debut; the "ghost goal" was the first goal he conceded in his Watford career. ==Competitions==