The Maurice Rebak Stadium club will hope for a bumper crowd when Leatherhead visit on Non-League Day

Wingate & Finchley confirmed Nicky Shorey as their new boss this week and the ex-England international will take charge for the first time on Saturday.

Leatherhead are the visitors to the Maurice Rebak Stadium on Non-League Day and it will be a big occasion for the Blues in the Bostik Premier.

On Monday, the club confirmed Shorey, who played in the Premier League for Reading, Aston Villa, Fulham and West Bromwich Albion, would be the man to take over after Keith Rowland’s exit.

The 37-year-old will be assisted by former team-mate Glen Little and cannot wait to get going after getting the bug for coaching while at Stevenage under Darren Sarll.

“Managing was never really in my thought process when I was playing, but I guess not much is when you are playing,” Shorey told talkSPORT2 on Tuesday.

“Since I stopped, I coached at Stevenage with Darren and Glenn Roeder and really enjoyed it and this is my next step.

“I am excited to get back into the game and be involved again on a day-to-day basis.”

This is Shorey’s first step into management, although as stated he was a coach at Stevenage, but Wingate chairman Aron Sharpe believes it is an “extremely exciting appointment.”

Blues had a number of people get in touch about replacing the former boss Rowland, but Shorey, with Little as assistant, ticked all the boxes.

Speaking about his number two at the club, Shorey said: “Glen is a really good guy, I have known him for years and he knows a lot of players at this level through his coaching, so he will be a big help for me.”

Wingate will start a new era on Saturday when Leatherhead visit north London and then Blues will travel to Burgess Hill Town on Tuesday (October 16).

It is two important games given the positions of each club in the table with the Blues 18th, which is a spot behind Leatherhead and ahead of basement club Burgess.

Looking ahead to the matches, Shorey said: “We have two massive games coming up against teams around us in the league, so first and foremost it is about getting points on the board and getting a platform to work with.”

Wingate were knocked out of the Middlesex Charity Cup on Tuesday night after losing 5-3 on penalties at home to Northwood following a goalless draw.