Following a busy transfer window Stevenage FC manager Darren Sarll has revealed what he looks for in a player ahead of Boro’s visit to Cheltenham.

The Boro boss made 14 new signings this summer including Sky Bet League One playoff winner Joe Martin from Millwall and Chris Whelpdale, who returned to The Lamex Stadium after a year away with AFC Wimbledon.

Speaking to CometSport, Sarll stressed a player’s character is the most important thing to him during the recruitment process.

“Our recruitment is great,” he said.

“Our head of recruitment Leon Hunter is terrific, he opens so many doors for me and then we go through a process we are very stringent on.

“I cannot tell you how many players we have spoken to that don’t get another conversation because their character doesn’t fit the fabric of the football club. I think it’s so important.

“I refuse to work with people I don’t want to work with.

“I refuse to put my club’s position and status in the hands of people who I don’t think feel the same sense of pride that I do.

“That is the reality of being at Stevenage is and I think we’ve been quite successful with it.”

Stevenage have also had success bringing in players from non-league, with the clubs current strike force of Matt Godden and Danny Newton arriving Ebbsfleet United and Tamworth FC over the past two summers.

Despite both scoring more than 25 goals in the season before they joined Boro, it was once again their character that attracted Sarll.

The 34-year-old said: “When I met Matt there was this crazy ambition in his eyes, it was frightening.

“It was clear he just wanted a platform and if he was given that, he would do everything in his power to create an opportunity for himself.

“I fell in love with that straight away.

“When I met Danny it was the same but different.

“There was still tenacity in the way he spoke, a real desire and humility to him.

“It wasn’t as glitzy and glamorous as Matt but the character of those two is staggering.”