FORMER Huddersfield Town player Aidy Boothroyd has joined Colchester United as manager.

The 38-year-old has taken over after Paul Lambert left the club for the Norwich City hotseat.

Boothroyd has been out of work since leaving Championship side Watford by mutual consent in November 2008.

He guided the Hornets to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2006, and took them to an FA Cup semi-final the following year.

More recently he was many bookies' favourite to get the Huddersfield Town job after the departure of Stan Ternent.

Boothroyd joined Huddersfield Town as an apprentice in 1987 but made only 10 appearances, including one as a sub, before leaving the club in 1990.

Boothroyd, who retired as a player at the age of 26 because of injury, watched United lose to Gillingham on penalties in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy on Tuesday.