John Salomon believes Lauren Davey was "the perfect choice" to become his new assistant manager at Watford Ladies.

The Golden Girls boss has been without a number two since Chris Thurston stepped down in November and has chosen to appoint his former captain, who hung up her goalkeeping gloves at the end of last season.

"She is the perfect choice really," Salomon told the Watford Observer. "She is a level-headed leader who has a passion for the club and its players. She is a person of great value to the club and has already had an impact with the players on a match day and at training.

"I think I surprised Lauren when I offered her the position, but I was delighted when she accepted, as were the players and club staff.

"Chris is a very difficult person to replace as he dedicated so much to the role, but I have every faith in Davo, along with Jackie Bushell, Ben Dowsett and the rest of the coaching, conditioning and medical team to deliver excellence and drive the club forwards this season."

Davey, who has been involved with Watford Ladies for more than ten years, is a popular figure at the club and her contribution was recognised with the Players' Player of the Year and Salomon's own honour last season.

Speaking at the club's awards night in November, Davey said she hoped to stay involved with the club in some capacity but she admitted this week the move into management had come as a surprise.

"It was a bit of the blue," she told the club's website. "I spoke to John towards a month after we finished and he sort of proposed the move to me.

"It's something that I'd been thinking I would like to get involved in. Having spoken to John and seeing his ideas I just can't wait to get started now."

The former goalkeeper acknowledged knowing the players is an advantage, but her new role also brings different challenges.

"I'd say it will be easier because I know the girls, I know their strengths, weaknesses and their personalities," she continued. "I feel I can get the best out of the them because of that.

"However, it's also a bit harder because they all know me as a player, so you've got to get that authority over them.

"The girls have been great and it's seemed like quite a natural process since coming into training, it's worked out really well."

Watford's new season gets underway on Sunday, February 1 when they face Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Women's Cup and Salomon's side continued their build-up at the weekend with a 2-1 friendly win over Lewes.

Having beaten Cambridge 4-0 in their first friendly the previous week, Salomon opted to use a smaller squad on Sunday to give more minutes to his key players.

Josie Green and a Kim Farrow penalty put the Golden Girls 2-0 up, before Kirstie Spice halved the deficit before the break.

Neither side was able to add to the scoring in the second half, although Farrow did hit the woodwork with an audacious lob.