[Dan_]

Stevenage Borough have pulled off a remarkable coup by persuading ex England boss Peter Taylor to take over as manager and he will be unveiled to the media at a 3pm press conference today, along with coach Steve Butler. The 53 year old former England international has agreed contractual terms to manage Stevenage Borough until the end of the 2008/9 season.

Chairman Phil Wallace, currently in the USA on business, said: “I’ve done nothing else for almost a week other than work on the managerial position, but it was worth it to get Peter on board. This is a Championship appointment in the Conference and shows our desire to compete for promotion this season and next. It wasn’t easy persuading Peter that this was a great career move for him, but he’s seen the potential of the club, likes the look of the stadium, the facilities, the opportunity and the Board and relishes the challenge.

“This is breathtaking news for the town of Stevenage. Peter is one of the finest coaches in the country and it was only a couple of years ago that he was managing the England U21’s. In fact his record at International U21 level is outstanding – just 3 defeats in 31 games – what a fantastic opportunity for our young players to learn from one of the very best coaches in the country.

“Peter also brings a wealth of experience and contacts to Stevenage. He’s managed at the very highest level possible by managing the full England team and has also managed at every level of the game. The timing is great too. Exeter away in the First Round of the FA Cup now means Peter Taylor v’s Steve Perryman, which could be great TV if they choose to cover the game”

Peter Taylor has won promotion with Gillingham, Brighton and Hull in the seven years since 2000. His time in charge at Hull was remarkable, taking them from the old Division Three to the Championship in three years and it was this achievement that led to Crystal Palace paying a reported £300,000 compensation for his release in June 2006. Borough have swooped to appoint him to replace Mark Stimson who resigned just over two weeks ago.

Phil Wallace added: “The past is the past. It was a shock when Mark walked out but we promised the fans that we would use this to go up a gear and we’ve delivered that with this appointment. It’s only about the future now and we’re only looking forwards. There are no guarantees in football, but our young players will love working with Peter and that’s a great start”

Borough’s other appointment in Steve Butler brings a wealth of football experience to the team. Butler, now 42, has made over 400 League appearances, scoring over 150 goals for Brentford, Watford, Bournemouth, Cambridge, Gillingham and Peterborough. He also enjoyed a loan spell at Borough and so is no stranger to Broadhall Way or Conference football.

http://www.stevenageborofc.com/index...p?news_id=424&

What an excellent appointment.I cannot believe we've managed to get him.