Ben Strevens said he can't wait to get started after being named as the new manager of Dagenham & Redbridge.

Strevens, 42, returns to Victoria Road having scored 35 goals in 125 league appearances for the club in two separate spells.

And he is hoping to create more great memories, having managed that as a player.

"I'm really happy to be here, I can't wait to get started," he told the club website.

"It's been a bit of a process where the club has done everything right in trying to pick the right person and they've chosen me and I just can't wait to get started now. 

"Right from the first day I came into the group I felt really fortunate to join the group I did. They were a fantastic group of lads, going on to win the National League in my first year was amazing.

"Teammates are now friends for life. We've still got groups we're all on together. I've been onto a few of them already about coming back to try and support the lads as well, which I will look to try and do.

"I've got nothing but great memories of playing here and being around that group.

"Getting back into a club where I have such good memories, there is a good group of players here and it's built on real strong foundations. It was an opportunity I couldn't turn down."

Strevens took his first steps into management as caretaker boss of Eastleigh for one game in 2016 and, after a short spell as joint manager at Whitehawk, returned to the club later that year.

After serving as assistant and caretaker manager once again, he was put in permanent charge in November 2018 until January 2022.

And after some time away from the game he has been working at Luton, adding: "Every experience you have in life, good and bad, you've got to try and learn from.

"I loved my time at my previous club, had some real good memories, sad the way it ended but it was probably right for me and the football club.

"Then there was a time, not working, watching games from afar and I've been going into a different environment for the last six/seven months which has been really good as well. I've seen a different picture of the game as well.

"I was working in Luton's academy, really enjoying my job but as soon as the call came in I had the first initial talks, it was something I knew I wanted to do, just hoping when you meet and speak to the directors and people that share the same vision and thankfully for me they do.

"It's my job now to try and get things going in the right direction."

Strevens arrives with Daggers sitting in 11th place in the National League, six points off the play-off spots, following the sudden departure of former boss Daryl McMahon last month.

They have beaten then leaders Notts County and York City since, but lost at Maidenhead United and to new pacesetters Wrexham.

And, with only 10 games remaining, Strevens knows he has little time to find his feet.

"I've got to try and hit the ground running, get some messages across to them as early as I can," he added.

"I want the supporters to come and watch a team they're proud to watch, win or lose. Lets hope we win lots of games together.

"I want them to go away from games going 'yeah, that's my Dagenham team'. That's what I was brought here on, that's the group we had and that has to come back as quick as possible and it's my job to make that happen."

Strevens has already watched the squad train under Dave Jupp and Steve Gritt and, with a blank weekend, has time to work with the players before they host Oldham Athletic on March 18.

And he is hoping to see similarities to the Daggers team he was a part of.

"The characteristics of the group I was part of. Team spirit, togetherness, sharing a real passion for playing for the club," he said, when asked what he wanted to see.

"We're going to lose games of football because that's the nature of the game, but it's how you lose a game of football as well. 

"The fans are going to want to see the team playing for each other, trying to win every single game, especially the home games.

"[I've already seen] lots of qualities, really respectful of taking over from the previous people as well.

"I've inherited some really good footballers, some good people as well.
I watched training and it was really good, with Juppy and Gritty taking it. The standard was really high, the competitiveness I could see coming out in the players.

"Now it's just me watching it and trying to get out there with them. I want to be on the grass with them, try and get some of my ideas across.

"It's going to take a little bit of time but we've got to try and do it as quick as possible, get into them early next week to try and get ready for the game next Saturday. A lot of pleasing signs there."

Strevens is also looking forward to seeing the Daggers fans once again, having enjoyed a good relationship with the faithful support during his time as a player.

And he says his side will keep pushing for promotion for as long as they can, adding: "Thank you for your continued support when I was here as a player. I'm hoping it's going to be the same now I'm manager.

"I can't wait to see as many of them as I can on Saturday. Get right behind the boys between now and the end of the season because everything is still possible.

"While it's mathematically possible we're going to try and push for them to finish as high as we can."