Brad Quinton says the support he has at Braintree Town means he is not fazed about building a new squad from scratch ahead of his first season in charge of the Iron.

The 38-year-old is in the process of assembling his team that will battle in the Vanarama National League South next year after taking the helm last month following the departure of former boss Hakan Hayrettin.

The majority of the squad that got relegated from the National League last year have moved on since the end of last season, leaving Quinton with the task of starting afresh.

It is a scenario reminiscent of last year, when a new group of players had to be brought together in the closed season, but while that proved a tough ask for the then manager Jamie Day to bring together, the current boss has no fears.

Quinton, who was the Iron’s record appearance holder as a player and knows it better than most, is relishing the chance to place his stamp on the team and feels he is being helped by support throughout the club.

He said: “Building a squad from scratch can work a couple of ways, but if you have the right support around you, which this club is offering me, then it can work out well.

“It was right for me to come back to a club where I spent so long as a player.

“Some managers can achieve greater things with young players where they look to progress them on and I like to think I’m one of them.

“If you all sing off the same song sheet and work collectively hard for one another then somewhere along the line you will tick all the boxes.

“I’m looking forward to it.

“We gave everyone from last year the opportunity to come and talk to me but what I’m hearing from some of the younger ones who wanted to stay, there wasn’t that togetherness in dressing room.

“I don’t think any manager has a cat in hell’s chance if they don’t have that first and foremost. It’s hard for youngsters to come out and say that, but they did.

“Some of the experienced boys wanted to go on and ask what money they were going to get (if they were to return), but the club had just been relegated and I wanted to meet up to suss people out.

“I wanted to know if they wanted to be a part of what we are doing now and moving forward.

“We’ve done all that but I have not had any worries with players; I’ve had people from the league above phoning me and it’s been constant, but it has to be right for me and Andy Porter.”

Only a handful of members of last year’s squad are set to report back for pre-season training on June 24 and Quinton is looking forward to seeing them battling for places in his team alongside the new faces coming in.

He added: “We have spoken to (goalkeeper) Ben McNarama and Joe Maybanks and Luke (Mallett) and Matt (Baxter) from the Academy and they are happy to be part of what we’re doing.

“We’ll give them a deal and they’ll get the opportunity to stamp their place in the first team like everyone else.

“They’re happy and as far as I’m concerned then everyone has that opportunity at this club and for them, it’s about them taking their chance.”