MICHAEL Bostwick has revealed that manager Graham Westley was the main reason he decided to stay at the club after speculation in the summer suggested the 22-year-old was set to leave newly-promoted Boro.

MICHAEL Bostwick has revealed that manager Graham Westley was the main reason he decided to stay at the club after speculation in the summer suggested the 22-year-old was set to leave newly-promoted Boro.

The former Ebbsfleet man had firm offers from two League One clubs on the table and Stevenage gave him 31 days to make up his mind whether he wanted to leave or stay.

However, the midfielder-come centre-half eventually put pen to paper on a new two-year deal at the Lamex Stadium in June and now says it would have been the wrong decision to leave the Blue Square Premier League champions at this point in his career.

“I’ve worked well with the gaffer and, over the years I’ve worked with him, he’s progressed me more than anyone,” said Bostwick.

“The club is going up and the lads are great and it’s not the right time for me to move on. It’s the right time for me to stay here and keep progressing under the manager who works hard with his players.”

Last season’s Players’ Player of the Year has found himself being deployed at centre-back so far in pre-season alongside skipper Mark Roberts.

Westley has been unable to see last season’s successful centre-back pairing of Roberts and Jon Ashton in action because the latter is currently out with a hip injury.

And, while Bostwick does have experience of playing at the back, he admits he’s unsure whether the transition will permanent or not.

“I don’t know if it’s a temporary thing,” added Bostwick.

“It depends on how Ash performs when he comes back in, and it’s not only Ash because we’ve got (Luke) Foster and Darius (Charles) as well so we’ve got strength and depth through the whole squad.

“I don’t mind where I play. It’s wherever the gaffer wants to put me really. Centre-half, centre-midfield, wherever – it doesn’t bother me.

“I think it depends who we’re playing against as to where I’m most effective. Obviously we do our reports on other teams and I play wherever I’m put. It’s not a factor of where I want to play – it’s wherever I’m put.

“It’s not really a matter of when Ash or anyone else comes back – if you’re playing well, you’re going to play.”