Braintree Town manager Glen Driver has unveiled his first two signings since taking the helm as the Iron's new boss.

Driver has started work on building his squad for the forthcoming Vanarama National League South campaign by adding players at both ends of the pitch - striker Tom Richardson and central defender jake Hutchings.

Richardson is a 25-year-old striker, with a strong pedigree of scoring goals for a variety of Essex non-league sides.

He started his career at Romford and then Brentwood, before heading to Brightlingsea where he scored scoring 31 goals during the 2016/17 campaign

That form earned him a spell at East Thurrock United and he spent last season at Bostik League division north runners-up Aveley where he scored 23 goals and Driver is happy to have on board a forward who is keen to make a step up.

Driver said: “As you can see, Tom scores goals and is hungry to play at the highest level he can.

"He is a very hard working and strong centre forward.

"He is very good in the air and will cause defenders a lot of problems.”

The other new addition is 23-year-old centre half Hutchings, who is a product of Leyton Orient’s youth academy.

He then followed Martin Ling to Torquay United where he was offered a professional contract at the age of just 17, before moving north to Scottish Premier League club Hearts and then spells back in non-league football, with Driver at Leiston and also at Grays Athletic and Mertsham.

Driver said: “Jake played a big part in the Merstham team that reached the Boston Premier Play-off final last season.

"I know all about him.

"He played for me a couple of seasons ago at Leiston, swiftly settled into the squad and showed his talent from the outset with some dominant displays. "Unfortunately changes to his personal circumstances meant that the commute to Leiston from his new base in Hertfordshire increased significantly.

"He was a very good signing for me and I am looking forward to seeing him develop in a Braintree shirt.

"He is young and hungry to progress and a very good ball player and defender.

"Both on and off the pitch Jake is a very professional young man, always looking to listen and learn.”