Watford have lost another member of staff to Malky Mackay’s Cardiff City, the Watford Observer understands.

We understand head of football operations Iain Moody has left the Hornets and is set to head up the Bluebirds’ recruitment department.

Moody will become the sixth Watford member of staff to leave the club to join Cardiff since Mackay was appointed manager on June 17.

Mackay took first-team coach David Kerslake, youth-team coach Joe McBride and head of medical Richard Collinge with him to the Cardiff City Stadium and they were soon joined by Scotland international Don Cowie – who left on a free due to a contract ambiguity (see link below).

At the time, Hornets chairman and legend Graham Taylor said: “Our manager made a decision to leave this football club.

“Speaking on behalf of the owner and the board of Watford FC, we are both surprised and disappointed to learn of Cardiff City’s continued advances for this football club’s personnel.

“Don Cowie becomes the fifth person to have joined Cardiff City from Watford this summer – when we add Malky to three members of staff and now a very talented player.

“Let’s hope it stops here.”

But we understand Moody has already left Watford and could formally join Cardiff as early as next week.

Moody has been an integral part of Watford’s backroom staff in recent years.

He was a football writer and then an agent before he joined the club as a press officer. But with time became more involved with players and their agents again and in 2007, was employed as head of operations.

Moody’s role at Watford was wide ranging and he was a well-liked and respected member of the backroom staff.

Click here to read our extensive interview with Moody from earlier in the summer.