The preparations are almost over and it will be a new face who leads the new-look Braintree Town team out for the start of a new era at the club for their Vanarama National League opener at North Ferriby on Saturday.

Jamie Day will be taking charge of his first competitive game as Iron boss and he has handed the captain’s armband to new central defender Jon Ashton.

The former Stevenage skipper, who made almost 200 appearances over six years at Borough, has joined Braintree after playing in League Two at Crawley Town last year and Day feels the 33-year-old has the credentials he is looking for in his club captain.

Day said: “We’ve given it to Jon as we felt he was best qualified with his experience and what he has done in the game.

“He has captained sides in the Football League and is a good leader.

“He demands things of other players and that’s exactly what you want from your captain.”

Ashton, who takes the armband following the summer departure of Kenny Davis, didn’t play in Braintree’s final pre-season game – a 2-0 win – at Bishop’s Stortford as he jarred his knee in the previous game at Concord Rangers, but the manager is expecting him to be fit for the trip to North Ferriby.

Defender Ian Gayle is another who has not trained fully due to a calf problem, but Day said he was also likely to be fit for Saturday’s opener.

Braintree’s second game will be at home against Eastleigh on Tuesday, but ahead of the first game of the season, Day said he had been putting the finishing touches to his Iron squad.

He said he hoped to bring 22-year-old central defender Jake Goodman on board before the trip to North Ferriby and felt the former Millwall youngster fitted the profile of a player who should be at Braintree.

Day added: “Jake didn’t have a great season at Margate last year and he now has a chance to knuckle down and prove people wrong if they have doubted him.

“That’s exactly the type of player we want to have here.

“He’s a centre-half and will add extra strength in that area so we have enough cover in there now.

“We’ve agreed terms with Jake and hopefully it will all go through.

“Another one we’ve got signed on is Zach Fagan, but we’re still trying to tie things up with Isaac Galliford after offering him a deal.

“I’ve also been speaking with another midfielder as we need a bit more cover in there and I’m hoping I’ll get something sorted there as well.”