MICHAEL Gilkes is the new manager of Basingstoke Town after Jason Bristow took the painful decision to step down as first team boss this week.

Bristow had been in change since February 2012 and twice guided the Dragons to the play-offs and the first round of the FA Cup including this season.

However, this campaign has not gone to plan and with Town bottom of the National League South, so Bristow has stepped down.

Former Reading midfielder Gilkes will now look to guide the Dragons away from the relegation zone, but his first game in charge is a Hampshire derby game at Havant and Waterlooville in the FA Trophy.

The new man in charge is under no illusions of the job in hand, but his ready to roll his sleeves and get struck into the challenge.

Gilkes said: “It is a difficult job, bit one I am looking forward to and I believe as a team we got ourselves in this position and we can get ourselves out of it.

“We need a few more players maybe two or three so this will give us competition for places, but we are not just going to sign players for the sake of it.”

an away trip to Havant and Waterlooville will certainly give new boss Gilkes a baptism of fire in the hot seat.

These Hampshire rivals have played many full blooded cup ties and Havant has not proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Dragons However, the home side are not having a very good season and are 19th in the National League South table, having lost their last two games.

Gilkes is looking forward to the game and is forced into one change as left back Tom Bird is suspended so Callum Buckley a new loan signing from Bournemouth will come into the line-up. The 19-year-old has previously played for Dorchester and Concord Rangers and made three appearances for the Cherries.

Captain David Ray is also ruled out due to injury as is Glen Southam and Jamie Brown.

The new boss is hopeful midfielder Shaun McAuley will be fit to play some part at the weekend.

Looking ahead to the game Gilkes said: “I know we have not done well there in the past, but we are going there looking to win and it is chance for the players to play for their shirts and skate a claim to stay in the starting XI.”

On Tuesday night, Town will be action against Dartford in the National League South.

The Kent side despite being 14th in the table are unbeaten in their last six games.

Town ‘s last league game was a 1-0 defeat against Maidstone and Gilkes said: “Their goalie was their man of the match as Aaron Howe never had a save to make, but we lost the game which made it was very disappointing."