Former Watford coach Hayden Mullins has been permanently installed as head coach of Colchester United.

Mullins took interim charge of the Hornets twice in their relegation season, first in the wake of Quique Sanchez Flores' sacking and secondly for the final two matches after Nigel Pearson was also dismissed.

He left Vicarage Road at the end of that campaign to join Colchester as an assistant coach.

Mullins was since installed as interim coach for the remainder of the recently-finished season, replacing former Watford player Wayne Brown, who had won just one match out of nine.

The 42-year-old guided the League Two club to safety with eight games remaining and as a result has been rewarded with the position on a full time basis.

A brief statement on the Colchester website this afternoon confirmed the news.

It reads: "Colchester United are pleased to announce that Hayden Mullins has been appointed as the club's new Head Coach.

Hayden was installed on an interim basis with eight matches of the 20/21 season remaining, and gained twelve points to move the U’s clear of the threat of relegation out of the EFL.

He joined Colchester United at the beginning of the 20/21 campaign as Steve Ball’s number two, before continuing that role under Wayne Brown following Ball’s departure as Head Coach in February."