Summer signing Charlie MacDonald has been appointed as first-team captain for the forthcoming season, whilst Curtis Weston will be vice-captain.

MacDonald, 33, joined the Bees earlier in the summer on a free transfer following his release by Oldham Athletic at the end of last season.

The Southwark-born hitman replaces goalkeeper Graham Stack, who fulfilled the role last season in the absence of former player/head coach, Edgar Davids. 

Meanwhile Weston, who joined the Bees in 2012, will take on the role of vice-captain and lead the side when MacDonald is unavailable for selection.

Reflecting on his appointment, MacDonald told the club's website: “I’m ecstatic. It is a real privilege to be named as captain and a big achievement for me at this stage of my career. I’m very grateful to the gaffer that he sees me as somebody who can do that job. 

“To be honest it was a bit of a bolt from the blue. I wasn’t expecting it as the manager has tried out various different captains during pre-season and I wasn’t one of them so I wasn’t really thinking about it. 

Continued MacDonald: “I’ve skippered sides on a few odd occasions, like last season when I was coming back from injury with Oldham reserves, but it is totally different doing it in a competitive environment but I’m an experienced player and I’ve got a lot of league appearances under my belt."

Weston was similarly delighted to be handed the responsibilty of vice-captain: “It feels good. The gaffer told me this morning and I am over the moon with it. I have been captain a couple of times at Gillingham but I’ve not had too much experience of it so it will be a nice change. 

“I don’t think that it’s going to be too different to what I’ve been used to. I’m one of the senior players in the squad anyway and have always tried to look after the younger boys and give them advance and guidance so I think it will be much the same going forward.” 

Bees boss Martin Allen had rotated the captaincy around members of the squad during pre-season, with John Akinde, Jack Saville, Gavin Mahon, Keanu Marsh-Brown and Elliott Johnson all wearing the armband at one stage.