This is the first move into management for the 35-year-old ex-Northampton Town defender, who featured more than 100 times during an eight-year spell at the Cobblers. However with a long playing career which also included spells at Leyton Orient in the Football League and at Hednesford, Morecambe, Burton Albion, Tamworth, Hinckley, Kettering and Hucknall in the Conference, the Valley board are pinning their hopes on a man with extensive experience within both the professional game and the higher levels of the non-league pyramid.

Colkin takes over at Town with the club rock bottom of the Zamaretto League Premier Division, and he will be assisted by another experienced non-league football campaigner – Michael Love.

Colkin and Love met their new players for the first time at training on Tuesday evening, and the pair – who have been friends for more than 20 years – have been planning a move into management for some time now.
The new boss said: "Michael and I have discussed the possibility of working together as a team many times, so when this position came along it was an ideal opportunity.

"We know that first and foremost we need to make the team hard to beat again. We will be looking to instil a siege mentality and play every game like it is a cup final in the immediate future. It's vital that everyone works together to try and remedy the situation we are currently in."

Assistant manager Love is also 35, and started his career at Hinckley, moving on to Wigan, Wycombe Wanderers, Stevenage and Nuneaton – where he was part of the side that famously took then-Premier League Middles-brough to a replay in the third round of the FA Cup in 2005 – before returning to Hinckley a year later.

Love was clearly looking forward to his new role. He said: "I am really excited by the challenge. We know it will be a tough one, but it is a good level of football and the facilities and infrastructure here are great, so it's an excellent opportunity for us to prove ourselves.

"We know there is no magic wand that we can wave here. However we will try and keep it simple for the players, make sure they know their roles on the pitch, and most importantly try and make it fun for them too at the same time."

Town chairman Brian Melvin explained the rationale behind the board's decision: "We were very impressed with Lee at interview stage. Both him and Michael have a good pedigree within the game and a good network of contacts.

"We had more than 20 applications for the position – and the quality of the candidates was probably the highest overall that we have had for a vacant manager's role in my time at the club. Therefore it was a tough decision, but we firmly believe that we have found someone with the right background, abilities, commitment and enthusiasm to succeed in the job."

Colkin's recent playing career has been hampered by injury, although he did play for both Atherstone and Stratford in 2008-09. He is however hoping to return to action at some point in the future.

He explained : "I need some keyhole surgery on my hip, and hopefully that will clear up the problem. In the meantime Michael is available for selection, and we both think it will be good to have a voice on the pitch."

Love was part of the same Stratford team as Colkin last season, before leaving for Unibond League South side Shepshed in the summer – where he was player/coach, featuring in his last game for them at the weekend.
Colkin confirmed that they would be looking to strengthen a squad without a league victory so far this season as soon as possible, but also reassured the current playing staff that there is still an opportunity for them to be part of their plans.

He said: "We will take a look at what we have got here at the moment in training and also maybe arrange a practice game to see them in a match situation.

"Of course, I'm looking to bring in some new faces, as we are a bit light on numbers anyway. However the slate is clean as far as the current squad is concerned and it is up to them to show us they want to be a part of the club."

The new management team have a further week to acquaint themselves with their new squad ahead of their first competitive fixture next Saturday against Merthyr Tydfil.