Ian Hendon has been rewarded for guiding Barnet to League 2 survival for next season with a two year contract as manager.
He said: "I am grateful for the opportunity I've had so far. I am a young and ambitious manager ... ambitious to get this club moving forward.
"I have to thank the players for coming on board and supporting me in the way I wanted to do things".
The 37-year old, who skippered the Bees when they won promotion back to the League, has been in the hot seat in an acting capacity since New Year's Day when Paul Fairclough became Chief Executive of Barnet Sports Development in charge of the 44-acre Prince Edward Playing Fields development.
The Bees were guaranteed League 2 status with four games to go when a goal from 40-year-old Paul Furlong beat AFC Bournemouth at Underhill.
Barnet are currently unbeaten in six games and have lost only once at Underhill in 11 games since Hendon took over.
His record in 21 games is: - won 7, drawn 8, lost 6. Goals for 29, against 21.
Chairman Tony Kleanthous met Hendon at Underhill when he drove from a scouting mission at Peterborough en route to Dagenham and Redbridge.
The chairman said: "He has been a great captain for this club and a great coach. He started in his present role in an acting capacity and steadied the club during a difficult period.
"When I saw how Ian had motivated the team there was never any doubt in my mind that he was the man for the job. I expect him to go forward to big things in the game".
Hendon used a 4-4-2 formation with two raiding wingers and brought in successful loan players like Furlong, Matt Lockwood, Jake Cole and Yannick Bolasie to add experience and flair.
One of the most exhilirating games was, surprisingly, the 1-0 away defeat by League leaders Brentford when Barnet pummelled their hosts and finished with six attackers chasing the game.
Hendon, an FA Youth Cup winner and England U-21 international in his early days at Tottenham Hotspur, played for Leyton Orient, Notts County and Sheffield Wednesday in a 20-year career.
He gained experience playing under top managers like Terry Venables, Peter Shreeves, Sam Allardyce.Ossie Ardiles and Paul Jewell.
Hendon joined the Bees in 2003, having been on loan six months previously under mentor Peter Shreeves. He captained the side to the Conference championship and made 139 apperances (15 as a substitute) before becoming assistant to Paul Fairlough.
"Now I can get on with the job at hand of building for next season", said Hendon.
Dennis Signy
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