Stevenage Ladies have appointed a Welwyn Garden City football coach as their new first team manager.

Gary Bailey, who also works as the academy manager at Hatfield’s Onslow St Audrey’s School, is the man to replace outgoing boss Josie North and lead Boro in their first season in the FA Women’s Premier League South East Division One.

Bailey, who takes on the side that won the Eastern Region Women’s Football League Premier Division last season, said: “I’m delighted to have got the job.

“We have had a couple of training sessions and we have some technically very good players.”

Bailey is no stranger to the club from the Lamex Stadium having worked in its academy for four-and-a-half years.

“I have been wanting to get into the women’s game for years and had a stint with Arlesey Town Ladies,” he said.

“My main aim is to go to America in five or six years to work in the women’s game.

“The women’s game is making great improvements and it’s a big challenge.

“Stevenage have been brilliant to me, I have learnt a lot there as they are keen on developing their coaches.”

The club’s footballing philosophies are to filter through to the women’s team, Bailey added: “Darren Sarll [Stevenage first team manager and the club’s ex head of academy] was working in the academy when I was and a lot of the values of his and the club will be taken to the women’s team.

“They are part of the club and proud to wear the badge.”

This season Stevenage Ladies, who will face league games against the likes of Norwich City, MK Dons, Gillingham, AFC Wimbledon, Cambridge United, Ipswich Town and Luton Town, will be playing their home matches at Hertford Town’s Hertingfordbury Park ground on Sundays.