THE continued league status of Barnet FC was crucial to the wider community, according to the new boss at Underhill.

The Bees had a difficult end to the season and only secured their survival in League Two on the final day.

The club also had to cope with the sacking of former manager, Ian Hendon, with two matches still to go, as the players battled against Grimsby to avoid slipping into the Conference.

But chairman Tony Kleanthous was quick to appoint former Gillingham boss Mark Stimson in the close season, and the new man at the helm believes it is “very important” for the club to have maintained their league status.

He said: “To be a league side is massive and thankfully that is the case. Now we have just got to try and move the club forward.

“The plans are huge having seen the training facilities and speaking to the chairman. And it is a challenge I really look forward to.

“The players will go ahead and do what they can do around the community. I know after last season and after talking to the people in the community, they were very pleased with the players' response and we want that to continue that because we know how important it is to get as many people interested in the club as we can.”

The average gate last season was around 2,000 at a stadium with a capacity of 5,500, and Stimson is aiming to boost the attendance by playing “engaging” football week in week out.

The 42-year-old married father of three said: “We're looking to get as many people in as possible and get that average crowd up, because if we do that it can only help the football side of things and will also show people are enjoying what they are watching.

“Everyone likes to follow a winning team and that is something we are looking to instil in the players from day one and hopefully continue that throughout the season.”

Stimson had a spell at Barnet as a player in 1995 and remembers the time fondly. He recalls picking up club legend Linvoy Primus before training sessions but admits the facilities have improved dramatically since then.

He said: “It's an absolutely fantastic set up. The training ground is amazing and the stadium has got a lot better since I played here many years ago, and I think we've got to make it a place teams don't want to come to.

“I want us to really get at teams at home and try and create as many chances as possible.

“If we do that I think the people in the stands will enjoy it and make as much noise as I'm told they did at the end of the season.”