Culture club at the Lamex

Stevenage now has the correct culture at the club to be successful, according to manager Graham Westley.

Following the club’s relegation from League One last season, the summer saw contracts expire and players signed by previous manager Gary Smith depart the club.

This has enabled Westley to put together a set of players that is completely his own and follow his key values.

He told the Comet earlier today (Thursday): “It’s pleasing to have a culture that you believe in.

“It’s very difficult when you are working with people who are not on the same page as you, who actively resist you, who don’t see their role as being part of the team, they see their role as being an individual and going about things in their way.”

In a previous spell at the club Westley gained back-to-back promotions with players buying in to his football philosophy.

“This is about a collective,” he added.

“Stevenage at its very best has been a collective, it’s been a unit, it’s been a place where we do things together, where the club and the team come before any individual and I think we are back to that as a culture now.

“That for me is fundamental; if you are going to be successful you have got to put the whole before any individual part.

“Where the individuals become more important than the club you get no chance, you get what we had last year.”