Former defender Luke Garrard has been appointed as Ian Allinson's successor as Boreham Wood manager.

Allinson only resigned on Monday but after taking charge of one match - Tuesday's 1-0 loss at home to Aldershot Town - Garrard has been announced as his replacement.

The 30-year-old, who served as Allinson's assistant whilst running the club's PASE Academy, has been with Wood for eight years since joining from AFC Wimbledon.

Speaking following his appointment, Garrard said: "I’m extremely happy and honoured to be appointed as the new Boreham Wood first team manager.

"I have spoken with the chairman at length over the past few days, about the club’s position, on what he expects and how we move forward.

"I’m excited by the club’s future plans and appreciate the confidence that Danny (Hunter) is showing in me by giving me the role.

“We have spoken in regards to what is expected of the dressing room for this season and I believe that can certainly be achieved.

“We have a very good group of players at the club and with the day time training and contact time with myself and Junior Lewis now in place, I feel the results can and will improve.

“The club is and has been a huge part of my life, I have gained valuable experience since joining the coaching staff eight years ago and I feel ready to take on the challenges in this next progression.

“I’ve worked alongside Ian for just over three seasons as his assistant manager and I have learnt a lot in that time.

“I owe Ian a huge thank you but it’s now my turn to make the tough decisions, it’s now my head that’s on the block and hopefully I will get the big decisions more right than wrong.”

Chairman Danny Hunter continued: “Losing Ian Allinson was, of course, not something I had expected at this particular juncture but was something I knew would happen at some time.

“As such I had prepared our club when building our infra structure, for life without Ian, as it was always our plan if we got into the National league to go full time at some stage, knowing that Ian was always going to remain at Carlsberg full time.

“Luke’s appointment simply keeps the continuity, stability, organisation and energy levels in place and will, I hope, improve on the foundations we have already built over the years.

Borehamwood Times: Picture: Sean HinksPicture: Sean Hinks

“I had a quick chat with Ian Allinson about my thought process regarding Luke becoming his successor.

“In truth he also felt that though he is young, he has had an immense influence on the club in recent years and was clearly the best candidate as he knows myself, the players, the staff and the club’s infra-structure inside out.

“Luke has been a successful player here, a successful coach here, a successful academy director here and a successful assistant manager here.

“Young managers will of course make mistakes and will need support but he has managed at every level of this club under the first team.

“He has a great dressing room presence, bundles of experience and tactical awareness for somebody so young, and he’s well respected by the players, staff and supporters alike.

“Luke will face pressure situations and difficult decisions, as a rookie manager that’s inevitable.

“Pressure is all part of the job and he must understand quickly that football management can and will be a very lonely business at times.

“That said, he will get all the support that he needs, just as Ian did. Trust me when I say that I know his character, his ambition and his leadership qualities inside out and as such he’ll do a great job.”

Borehamwood Times: Picture: Sean HinksPicture: Sean Hinks

Garrard began his playing career with Tottenham Hotspur but was released as a schoolboy. He was picked up by Swindon Town and made a handful of appearances for the Robins before leaving in 2005.

Stints with Bishop's Stortford, Boreham Wood and Northwood followed before a switch to Wimbledon in 2006.

He would go on to make more than 100 appearances for the Dons as a right-back and occasional central midfielder.

But after tearing his cruciate ligament Garrard found himself on the periphery upon his return and was allowed to join Wood once more in 2010.

He has remain with the club ever since, winning promotion to the Conference South in 2010 - a year after doing the same with Wimbledon - before securing a place in the National League in May with an extra-time win over Whitehawk in the Play-Off Final.