GLENN Hoddle was pushed closer to the precipice last night as a war of words with Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey plunged his job into further doubt.
Hoddle vowed to hold showdown talks with Moxey, who launched a scathing attack on Hoddle for his failure to reach the play-offs.
Jeremie Aliadiere's firsthalf goal was not enough to keep alive Wolves's faint hopes of a promotion miracle as Marlon King's 65th minute equaliser effectively brought down the curtain on Wolves' season of misery.
Moxey said: "It has to be said that most of us feel this season has been a complete disaster. We have always believed, and still do, that our squad has been good enough to reach the top six.
"I am speaking from the heart and for everyone at Wolves when I say that we are devastated at finishing outside the play-offs."
Hoddle, who seems almost certain to depart by the end of the season, said: "If he said that we had better have a chat. It is not a disaster because we are not languishing near the bottom of the table."
The boss had to endure chants of "Ince for manager" when midfielder Paul Ince, one of the candidates to replace Hoddle, limped off injured in the first half.
A brief respite came when Aliadiere capitalised on a superb pass from Tomasz Frankowski after 17 minutes to slot past Ben Foster.
But Frankowski, the £1.4million signing yet to open his account, missed a simple chance when he was sent clear on goal just before the break.
Watford, a play-off spot already guaranteed, pulled level with Championship top scorer King notching his 21st of the season with a far post strike from Lloyd Doyley's long throw.
He then got himself sent off by referee Kevin Wright with six minutes to go.
King had a penalty shout against Joleon Lescott, who was being watched by Aston Villa manager David O'Leary, turned down and reacted angrily, shouting at an assistant referee. He trudged off in disbelief.
WOLVES: Postma, Edwards, Lescott, Lowe, Ross (Seol 72), Cameron, Ince (Ricketts 36), Kennedy, Naylor, Aliadiere, Frankowski (Cort 72).
WATFORD: Foster, DeMerit, Mackay, Carlisle, Doyley, Eagles (Chambers 90), Mahon, Spring (Bangura 87), Young, King, Henderson (McNamee 61).