Glen Driver is relishing the chance to build at Braintree Town after being handed the opportunity to be the Iron's new manager.

The former Leiston manager has been appointed by the club to be their new boss following the departure of Danny Searle to Aldershot Town last month and he is excited by the chance to manage at step two in the non-league pyramid.

It is a step up for Driver after he enjoyed a run of notable success with Leiston in the third tier in the Bostik League premier division.

His Leiston side finished just outside the play-offs in his first year in charge, before securing a play-off berth and then becoming Suffolk Senior Cup champions and he feels the time is right to take charge in the Vanarama National League South.

He said: “Since leaving Leiston, I’ve been offered a few jobs here and there but I wanted to wait for the right opportunity to come along that could take me to a level where I wanted to manage.

“To be given this opportunity, I’ve overwhelmed, but also very confident that I can carry out the duties to fulfil the job.

“This is my first time at step two, but I’ve moved up successfully before when coming into step three.

“I managed Leiston Reserves, who were Thurlow (Nunn League) division one and their under-18s, who were a youth side and then jumped up to step three and the history books will tell you we finished in the play-offs in our second full season and just missed out in our first.

“So I’m not too worried about the step up.

“It will take time and there has to be a plan in place, but speaking to the chairman, I think there is.

“I know it has been a bit of a revolving door with managers but we have spoken about a three-year plan where we can try to build something and try to be successful here."

With Braintree having just been relegated from the National League's top-flight, Driver is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead and he wants fans to be patient as he and his team look to build over the next few years.

But it is a challenge that he has been keen to grasp.

He added: “The supporters are the most important people at a football club and they deserve to know what’s going on at their club.

“There are no secrets.

“The chairman has been in the press and said very openly that the budget has been cut.

“I know we won’t have the biggest budget in the division but that’s when you have to show your skills as a manager and look for good young players – hungry players – and try to build a team and a football club.

“That is the aim and if you’re playing good football, then there will be backsides on seats.

“I do think the Braintree supporters have to be patient.

“They’ve just had a couple of seasons where their club has gone up from the National League South and then have come down from the Conference.

“The club have cut the budget and it is going to be a tough job but it’s one we are looking forward to.

“I hope we can get the crowds up and give the supporters something to look forward to."