Mark Stimson, the 42-year-old former Gillingham manager, has been appointed as successor to Ian Hendon at Barnet.
Chairman Tony Kleanthous said: "We went through a very vigorous selection process and have chosen Mark mainly because of his experience in the game and at our level and also because of his over-riding enthusiasm for good football.
"He has worked with Paul Fairclough on the England C scene and Michael Stone, the new first team coach.
"Because of all the investment we need to push for promotion next season".
Stimson has had success in winning promotion from League 2 with Gillingham and also on the non-league scene.He has excellent contacts at both Football League and non-league level.
The new manager told www.barnetfc.com this afternoon:"I enjoy an attacking style of football. I try to win games and to entertain. That's what the fans like to get them off their seats".
Joining Stimson at Underhill will be 47-year-old Scott Barrett, his assistant during his time at Gillingham after the pair formed a winning partnership with Grays Athletic and Stevenage Borough.
The pair will link up with recently appointed first team coach Michael Stone and Paul Fairclough, who played a leading role in the selection process after leading Barnet to League 2 safety as caretaker manager for the final two games of last season.
After initially meeting chairman Tony Kleanthous for talks about joining the Bees, the new manager had "positive conversations" with Fairclough about the way forward for the club.
Fairclough will continue his executive role at The Hive and as coach to the U-18 side. Stimson, who has provided many players for Fairclough's England C side, has also worked with Stone at the Tottenham Hotspur academy.
"It will be nice having him on board", he said.
The aim of bringing in the newcomers is to ensure that everyone at the club is "singing from the same hymn sheet" - similar coaching from youth football to first team allied to providing good football.
Barnet's Centre of Excellence has provided two professionals for Stimson's squad this season, Mauro Vilhete, who made his first team debut under Fairclough at the age of 16 at the end of last season,and England U-18 schoolboy international Reece Yorke.
"I'm not frightened to play young players", said Stimson, who played five times for the Bees on loan from Portsmouth in the 1995-96 season.
He left Gillingham after the Kent side were relegated from League 1 at the end of the season.
The East Londoner has had managerial success with promotion with Gillingham to League 1 via a play-off victory against Shrewsbury Town; successive FA Trophy victories when he was in charge at Grays Athletic; and a third consecutive Trophy win when he moved on to Stevenage Borough. He was also a Trophy winner as a Canvey Island player.
Stimson signed his first professional contract with Tottenham Hotspur but only played twice for the club at senior level. He joined Newcastle United for £200,000 and made 86 appearances for them and scored the only two League goals of his career. He joined Portsmouth for £100,000 and made 58 appearances, followed by 57 at Southend United.
One of his first tasks at Underhill will be to study the club's retained list to make decisions on whether he wants to keep any player previously listed as 'released'.
Dennis Signy
