By Ron Fosker

After Braintree Town's massive over achievement in reaching the play-offs, an anticlimax was only to be expected.

But no-one foresaw this.

Virtually the whole of the first team squad have departed, along with the manager and assistant manager.

Only Simeon Akinola, Chez Isaac and Michael Cheek remain.

It is a major body blow to the club and has left new manager Jamie Day with more work in the close season than could reasonably be expected.

Just how successful he has been will begin to take shape when Iron step out on to the pitch at newly-promoted North Ferriby United on Saturday.

It has been the biggest shake-up since George Borg took over in 2004.

But Borg was taking over a team that had finished second from bottom in the Ryman Premier League, and the clear-out was largely of his own volition.

Day has seen former manager Danny Cowley take Alex Woodyard, his choice as player-of-the-year last season, Sam Habergham and Taylor Miles to his new home at Lincoln City Matt Fry has gone to York, Dan Sparkes to Torquay and Mitch Brundle to Gateshead, while Mark Phillips has stepped down a division at Ebbsfleet as has Sean Marks, Iron’s longest serving player, who has linked up with former manager Alan Devonshire at Maidenhead.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the decision of Kenny Davis, captain for the last five years, to move to lowly Boreham Wood, and the greatest disappointment that of Matt Paine, the supporters’ player-of-the-year, to follow him.

At least Paine took the time out to explain his reasons – he will be given a role in his new club’s academy - on the supporters’ forum.

In addition, Tom King and Sean Long, both on loan at the end of last season, have also returned to their clubs while the future of Remy Clerima and Antony Edgar is uncertain.

The one bit of good news is that Akinola, watched by a number of Football League clubs last season, is still on Iron’s books although with the abolition of the transfer window there is no guarantee that he will stay.

For the moment, Day can build a new team round him, Isaac and Cheek and early indications are that they will line up in a 4-4-2 formation, in contrast to Cowley’s preference for 4-1-4-1.

Lee Barnard, signed from Crawley and recommended to the club by former captain Alex Revell, has looked sharp in pre-season and judging from his two goals at Heybridge, could be the poacher that the club have lacked for some years.

He combined well with Cheek for both his goals but the two will have to fight off the challenge of Jack Midson, signed from Eastleigh and formerly with League clubs Oxford and Wimbledon, for a starting place.

Day has, perhaps wisely, gone for experience – both the new strikers are over 30 – in the hope that the team will settle together relatively quickly.

To that end he has also added centre backs Jon Ashton, 34 in October, from Crawley, to take on the wise head at the back role that Phillips provided last season, and Jerome Okimo, 28, with Football League experience at Stevenage, as well as full back Craig Braham-Barrett, 28, who played for Charlton, Peterborough and Cheltenham.

Day has not neglected up-and-coming players and has secured the services of Jamie Butler, a 24-year-old goalkeeper from Hemel Hempstead who made the England C squad two years ago.

Also the right side of 25 are midfielder Harry Lee and right back Barney Williams, both 21 and both from relegated Welling.

More recently he has added Zach Fagan, 21, who was with Day at Welling, Quade Taylor, 22, another with a Welling connection – he was on loan there when Day was in charge – and 20-year-old Rohdell Gordon, who was at Bromley last season.

Players, manager and supporters have all stressed the importance of Braintree’s team ethic and spirit of togetherness in the past, and particularly in last season’s spectacular run to the play-offs, and it is here that Day’s managerial nous will be required.

Borg proved that a set of new players can gel by taking his new charges to fifth place in his first season and both Robbie Garvey and Rod Stringer improved the team’s fortunes after undertaking something of an overhaul.

Since then Devonshire and Cowley have produced outstanding sides from a limited budget and an average gate the third lowest in the National League.

Braintree have a good record of choosing managers since Lee Harding took over the chairmanship.

Borg, Lee Patterson, Garvey, Stringer and Cowley all improved the club’s league position, at least in their first season, while Devonshire took over a promoted side and established them at the higher level.

Harding will be hoping he has done it again in choosing Day, manager at Welling for five years and subsequently at Ebbsfleet and last season number two at nearly-promoted Forest Green.

Harding has said every season all he is looking for is the safety of 20th place.

He probably meant it in the first couple of seasons but one suspects his tongue was pushed further and further into his cheek as Iron became established in the division.

If he says it again this season, perhaps we should believe him.