Former Hornet Paul Devlin knew Malky Mackay had the necessary qualities to succeed as a manager just one week after the former centre-half joined Watford in 2005.

Retired Devlin, who was speaking before two of his former sides go head-to-head at Vicarage Road tonight, said: “We got on great straight away with him playing for Celtic and me being a Celtic fan. I could tell after a week of meeting him that he was going to be great manager.

“He had a fantastic attitude to the game and he had that aura about him. It wouldn’t surprise me if he went on to be a very successful manager.”

Devlin joined Watford in September 2003 from Birmingham City, with Elton John paying the £150,000 asking price and the winger’s wages.

“It was a strange situation which I had never experienced in my career,” Devlin said.

“I never had any contact with him or spoke to him and I was told to keep it quiet but in the end it came out when he mentioned me on stage at the concert at Vicarage Road which the lads took the mickey out of me for.

“To be fair to him he knows his football and it was nice for me that he put his money where his heart is and brought me to the club.

The winger had turned down the chance to join West Ham after meeting with manager Ray Lewington and assistant Terry Burton, who offered him a three year contract.

He said: “I was away for Scotland playing in Lithuania and Trevor Brooking rang me, saying they wanted me there on an initial loan and as long as I didn’t go and have a nightmare they would sign me.

“But at 31 it was a fantastic offer from Watford. I spoke to a couple of ex players and I had a really good feel about the place.”

Despite an impressive first season for Devlin, who made the most appearances in the squad, the team struggled against relegation.

He revealed the death of Manchester United loanee Jimmy Davis before the season began was a big factor in the side’s problems.

“It was a massive blow and it affected the squad massively,” he said.

“He was a popular figure and there were one or two lads who knew him well and it was a tragic time for everyone connected to the club.”

The second season was a disappointing one for the Scotland international who only played 23 times after he was forced to undergo surgery on his toe.

That year saw the miraculous run to the semi final of the League Cup, as Watford saw off Premiership opposition in Southampton and Portsmouth before eventually losing to Liverpool.

However, Devlin rejected suggestions the cup run affected the club’s league form.

“I don’t agree that the league cup was a distraction,” Devlin said.

“it was a welcome distraction from the pressures of the league and the threat of relegation.

He argued it was the sacking of Lewington which affected the squad more.

“Ray was a fantastic manager and was very popular amongst the squad,” Devlin explained.

“I didn’t think it was the right decision. He kept us up the first season and the second season he took us to the semi-final of a cup on a shoestring; I thought it was very unfair.

“As players you can’t do anything but if you ask anyone from the squad at that time I would have been surprised if there was anyone with a different opinion.

Devlin also rubbishes claims Lewington had lost the dressing room.

“Nothing could be further from the truth. He was in charge of 30 to 40 players so obviously he wasn’t going to be everybody’s best friend and there was always going to be players unhappy at being left out but everyone was behind him.”

Having saved the club from relegation, new manager Aidy Boothroyd quickly stamped his mark on the side by getting rid of the senior squad members, including Neil Cox and Sean Dyche. Devlin believed he would be leaving the club that summer but ended up staying for another six months.

With Boothroyd targeting promotion, Devlin admitted that some of the players didn’t take him seriously to begin with.

He said: “When he came in he was very positive and most of the lads thought he was doing that to gee us up but at the end of the day he went and proved everybody wrong. He saw something in the squad and believed in it and did what he said he was going to do.”

Despite an impressive first half of the season for Devlin, which saw him make 22 appearances, he was told by Boothroyd that he wanted to sign Chris Eagles.

He said: “I was disappointed Aidy thought that way because I thought that my form warranted another year but I understand why he wanted a young, exciting winger from Manchester United rather than a 33 year old with no resale value.

“I see his logic but I would have loved to have been involved with the second half of the season and promotion.”

Tonight’s game will see Watford take on one of Devlin’s other former clubs Sheffield United, where he made more than 150 appearances between 1998 and 2002.

“I had a fantastic four years there. The first year we made it to the playoffs but unfortunately Sunderland beat us. I won player of the year there one year and runner up another year so I have really fond memories. They are a fantastic club, I made lots of friends there and I really enjoyed it.”

As for Watford, Devlin looks back on his time at Vicarage Road with similar affection.

He concluded: “I have a little bit of regret that the Watford fans never saw me at my best but I have great memories and the supporters were fantastic to me.”