Defender Matt Jackson has left Wigan Athletic for a two-year contract with Watford, who have been relegated from the Premiership along with Sheffield United and Charlton Athletic.

For the Hornets, who are getting ready for the Coca-Cola Championship next season, this has been the first signing of the summer.

Manager Adrian Boothroyd is happy as he feels that he will be able to use Jackson as a back-up option for Jay DeMerit, who is likely to go for international duty to United States regularly.

“With Jay going away for international duty and our not knowing how he will come back, the signing of Matt gives us a player with calmness and an ability to manage the game,” Boothroyd told the club’s official website, www.watfordfc.com.

“Jay has been brilliant for us and will continue to be, but we need to give him the benefit of recovery next season.

“It is going to be a grind, particularly the 28 games until Christmas, when we have to break the back of the games and get wins under our belt.”