FOLLOWING today's (Monday) announcement of Malky Mackay as the new First Team Manager at Vicarage Road, Chief Executive Officer Julian Winter joins www.watfordfc.com to discuss how the Scotsman was the ideal candidate for the job.

The 37-year-old former defender has agreed to a three-year contract with the Hornets as Manager.

Winter said: "All the board is very, very happy with the appointment of Malky.

"He knows the club inside out and is fully aware of our important place in the community, the emphasis we have on our Academy and bringing through home-grown talent, as well as improving the senior professionals on a day-to-day basis to compete in the Championship.

"Malky has spent time learning his trade at Watford and is now ready for his next challenge."

The selection committee of Chairman Jimmy Russo, Vice-Chairman Vince Russo, Director Graham Taylor and Winter himself, shortlisted four candidates for the top job at the club.

Watford CEO Julian Winter

However, as Winter explains, Mackay was immediately a front-runner after Brendan Rodgers departed for Reading and he was the first and only candidate to be formally interviewed.

"He had already been identified as a potential successor and as such was in poll position for the role" admitted the former Community Director at Vicarage Road.

"We have established a succession plan at the club and that has included planning for our next manager.  We have been active setting up structures and management functions on the football side of our business that allows the manager to focus on first team affairs and that in part has enabled us to identify the next manager from within.

"We aim to develop staff at all levels of the club and it was right that Malky was placed in poll position for the job."

Although there was disappointment at the departure of Rodgers, the plan in place at Vicarage Road was always to ensure that the structure doesn't crumble when one person leaves the club. 
 
"It was in the plan and we had earmarked Malky as the future manager here at the Club" commented Winter.

"I don't think anybody expected Brendan to leave so soon, however this is why we have these plans in place.

"We believe that Malky has all the credentials to move us forward and stamp his authority on the team.

"On a personal note, I'm looking forward to working closely with him and we of course wish him all the success for the future as he leads the first team forward.

"Malky did tremendously well to stabilise the club back in November during his role as Caretaker Manager and he showed plenty of first-class managerial qualities during that period too."

The selection committee met and from the start Malky was the front-runner.

"We interviewed Malky and it was clear we had an outstanding candidate. His preparation was first-class and he knows the club very well.

"Malky knows the structure in place at the club and he demonstrated to all the committee his commitment to the cause and his vast industry knowledge to take on the managerial role at Watford."

Mackay was a regular in The Championship as a player with the Golden Boys, Norwich City and West Ham United, after moving south from Celtic.

Winter went on to add: "His understanding of The Championship is superb, Malky has spent 10 years in this league and knows the players and managers well.

"His achievement of three promotions as a player is incredible and above everything else he is hungry for success as a manager and wants to prove himself to everyone connected with this club.

"Malky had also been involved [in his old role as First Team Coach] in helping shape the club's new five year plan which maps out realistic aims for everyone to achieve.

"He is at the forefront of that plan now and we are all excited about the immediate and long term future at Watford."

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