Watford legend Steve Sherwood has urged Scott Loach to stay and develop his career at Vicarage Road and resist the temptation to move to a bigger club for now.

Loach has been linked with moves to the Premier League since establishing himself as first choice goalkeeper in 2008, with the Hornets turning down a loan bid, with a view to a permanent move, from Tottenham Hotspur in January 2010.

And Sherwood, who started his career at Chelsea, insists the England Under-21 keeper’s career would benefit from playing regularly now rather than being a squad player at a top-flight club.

“He [Loach] certainly looks the part,” Sherwood said. “I think he’s got presence in the goal which is very important and there have been good reviews about him. I think he’s a good keeper and could go higher in the game.

“My career was affected by the fact that I started at a big club and only played 14 games in six years when I first started playing.

“What helped me was I went on loan to Brentford for over a season and that gave me the confidence to come back and challenge for places and end up at a club like Watford.

“Wherever you’re playing your talent will come out however good you are but it’s important that you’re playing in front of people and being noticed.

“I think he would rather be playing in front of supporters at a club than playing in the reserves somewhere else.”

Sherwood, now 57 and working as a financial advisor in Grimsby, has been watching events closely at Vicarage Road and in particular the return of Graham Taylor as chairman.

The duo worked together from 1977 to 1987 during the most successful period in Watford’s history.

“Graham always said it was the happiest days of his life at Watford Football Club and I think it’s nice that he’s repaying that. The time under Graham was fantastic and it’s great to see him back involved.

“We had a good relationship. As long as you were honest and worked hard, Graham would do his best for you and that is how it should be really. I think Graham ran a football club the way it should be run.

“At the time I obviously didn’t think of him being chairman one day but I always thought he would be back in an advisory role - that would have been ideal for Graham. It’s great for a manager to have Graham in the background in case he needs advice as well.

“I think considering the problems they’ve had, the money situation they’ve been in and the fact they have a very young team, to finish in the top half of the table would be an achievement for the club. At times they’ve played some excellent football as well.”

Sherwood made over 200 appearances during an 11-year spell with the Hornets, helping the club clinch three promotions, finish runners up in the old First Division, play in Europe and reach the 1984 FA Cup final.

“I still pinch myself now because as far as an occupation was concerned it was by far the happiest time I’ve had in my life but it was hard,” he recalled.

“We did train and work a lot harder than other clubs and probably didn’t get rewarded as much as other players but it was so enjoyable and we had such a great team spirit at the club... it was fantastic.

“I was at the club at the right time. I cared about Watford and I cared about the supporters.

“Living in a place does help I think, it does make you care, and it makes you want to be involved in the community as well as being a player at the football club. It did matter to me that I did well when I played and I was proud to play for the club.

“I reached a period in my life when I knew I was part of something special - not a lot of players get that feeling during their careers and I was lucky to be part of it.

“I do support Watford and I would love to see them do something like that again.”