Watford stalwart Lloyd Doyley is on the verge of signing a new contract with the club.

The Watford Observer understands Doyley will pen his latest deal in the coming days and it is believed to be another one-year contract.

Doyley joined the Golden Boys as a nine-year-old and made his professional debut 12-and-a-half years ago under the reign of Gianluca Vialli.

The 31-year-old made his 432nd outing for Watford at the weekend which moved him joint sixth in the club's all-time appearance list with Arthur Woodward (see below).

He is 71 appearances below record holder Luther Blissett and now only Blissett, Nigel Gibbs, Gary Porter, Duncan Welbourne and Tommy Barnett have appeared for the Hornets more times than Doyley.

The defender has found himself out of the side under several managers but has always won his place back.

Doyley has featured in 23 of Watford's 41 games this season but has started the last three matches.

With 11 games remaining, Doyley could reach the top five this season if he is selected in ten of those contests.

Last month, head coach Beppe Sannino said: "My dream is always to have the kind of players that are born wearing the shirt of the club.

"These days football is more business than soul and it is difficult to see this kind of soul in the football world now.

"My dream is to have the chance to manage players like Lloyd Doyley who is born with this club and is a part of this club."

"Lloyd is a great, great man and a great, great professional - he is a gentleman," Sannino added. "He is always ready whenever I call upon him."

Top appearance makers in Watford's history   

Player                               Total        Starts (+subs)

Luther Blissett                   503         451 (+52)
Nigel Gibbs                        491         466 (+25)
Gary Porter                       472         429 (+43)
Duncan Welbourne           457         449 (+8)
Tommy Barnett                 442         442
Lloyd Doyley                     432         392 (+40)
Arthur Woodward             432         432

Doyley has only scored two goals during his professional career. The first came in 2009 against QPR. It was one of the most memorable moments in the Hornets' recent history and can be seen below.

Video from Sam Gardner's YouTube account.