Watford legend Lloyd Doyley has joined Championship side Rotherham United until the end of the season, subject to the deal being ratified by the FA and Football League.

The defender, who joined the Hornets at the age of nine and went on to make 443 first-team appearances, has been out of contract since his deal at Vicarage Road expired in the summer.

He did, however, remain at Watford as he recovered from neck surgery and featured twice for the club’s Under-21 side earlier in the season in an attempt to regain his fitness.

Doyley went on trial with Championship side Charlton Athletic in November and was set to earn a contract with the Addicks but the club sacked manager Guy Luzon and the deal was withdrawn.

Another trial at Gillingham followed in December but the League One club opted against signing the 33-year-old full-back, who has sporadically returned to Watford’s training round since the turn of the year. 

Doyley trained with Queens Park Rangers for a spell but was offered the chance to go on trial with Rotherham last week following the appointment of Neil Warnock. 

The Jamaica international played for the club’s Under-21 side on Wednesday and it was announced today he had signed a short-term deal with the Millers.
 

“Lloyd is a player that knows the league well and he comes in to help us at a difficult time with a lot of games coming up,” Warnock told Rotherham's website. 

“It was important when the opportunity arose to sign them to get them on board.

“I had Lloyd with me training at QPR and I wanted to sign him then until the end of the season, so I am delighted to be able to do that here.

“If you ask anybody about Lloyd they will tell you that he is a really good pro. He played 443 games for Watford. You can put him anywhere across the back and he will give 100%."

He scored just twice for the Hornets. His first a flying header against Queens Park Rangers (video below) and his second an over-hit cross agianst Bolton Wanderers.