A NEW era has dawned at Stevenage Boro this week. The club has recruited its number one target – Mark Stimson – to fill the vacant managerial void. He replaces Graham Westley, who left Broadhall Way for the final time yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon after

A NEW era has dawned at Stevenage Boro this week.

The club has recruited its number one target - Mark Stimson - to fill the vacant managerial void.

He replaces Graham Westley, who left Broadhall Way for the final time yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon after his contract was not renewed.

Stimson has wasted no time in starting to build a squad.

Full-back John Nutter has joined from Stimson's previous club Grays in a two-year deal.

Stimson said: "John is a good player and he has worked with me for the last two years."

The 24-year-old should be the first of many before the players report back for pre-season training on Thursday, June 29.

Stimson now has a dozen contracted players at the club - Alan Julian, club captain Jason Goodliffe, Ronnie Henry, Luke Oliver, Dannie Bulman, George Boyd, Adam Miller, Darryn Stamp and Nutter plus the youthful trio of Sam Hatton, Chris Sullivan and Ieuan Lewis.

Jon Nurse has not yet pledged his future to the club but further talks were being held today.

Stimson said: "All the players on contracts are good players.

"The nucleus of the side is definitely there although in certain areas we do need more competition for places.

"I've been on the phone this week and will continue to talk to more players.

"But I'm excited by the prospect of working with the players here and the younger ones like George Boyd and Ronnie Henry.

"I rate Adam Miller as one of the top five midfielders in the Conference. I know what he can do in the centre of the park as I played with him at Canvey and managed him at Grays."

No decision has been made yet about the captaincy for the season but Stimson said: "Someone like Jason Goodliffe is a leader and I played in the same England side against America at Stevenage a few years ago."

Stimson is promising a more 'open' approach at the club as well as an adventurous feel.

"The image under Graham (Westley) was a little bit grey.

"Win or lose, I expect myself and the players will be in the bar after the game. I know how important supporters are to any club.

"I won't change my principles either; if we win 5-3 each week that is fine by me."

Stimson will look to avoid the high-profile rifts seen at Broadhall Way in recent seasons involving the likes of Andy Woodman, Dean Brennan and Anthony Elding.

"You have to treat everyone differently and you have to get to know your players.

"If the players are criticised, they should be criticised for all the right reasons."

Stimson, who has joined on a three-year contract, is regarded as one of the hottest managerial properties in the Conference.

He resigned from Grays two days after winning the FA Trophy for the second successive year.

Stimson also took them to third place in their first season in the Conference after winning promotion last season.

He officially takes over his new post today (Thursday).

Stimson, who rejected an offer from a unnamed League club to take the Boro job, continued: "I thought I had taken Grays as far as I could.

"I've come to a club that is definitely going places. You just have to look at the stadium and the training facilities are spot on.

"Unlike Grays, there is already a fantastic fan base here of more than 2,000 people.

"We will have targets this year although sometimes it can take time to bed a side in.

"The teams that are coming down, Oxford and Rushden, are going to be strong, as will the likes of Weymouth.

"Burton could be a force this season along with all the others from last year that were up there."

Stimson said that the FA Trophy - sidelined in recent times - will be important to the club and he added: "Winning is the best habit and it helped us at Grays when we had good victories in the Trophy."

His number two at Grays, Scott Barrett, has also made the transition to Broadhall Way.

Barrett added: "I believe Stevenage Boro is a League club in all but name. They've got the potential to go a long way."

A fans' forum is being arranged for later this month.

Pre-season friendlies at Broadhall Way should include the likes of Leyton Orient and the now annual visit of Premiership outfit Spurs.