There is a saying in football that if you are good enough, then your age is important.

The new management team at Arlesey Town fit into the young category too but boss Tommy Cooney, 28, and 25-year-old assistant Zac Guerfi believe they are capable of lighting a fire under the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division strugglers.

They are also excited by being able to pull all of their experiences in the professional and non-league game to the test at a club "with huge potential".

Former Stevenage youth, Guerfi said: "Tommy and I have been at a few non-league clubs together and we've had many conversations about what we would do differently. 

"What would we do if we ever had the opportunity? 

"Tommy had the role as the first team coach at Dulwich Hamlet and he was involved with another step three club as well just after.  

"And when the opportunity came up, he applied to Arlesey and said, 'if I get the job, would you come in as my assistant/player’? 

"It is the kind of the opportunity we've always looked forward to. 

"Yeah, we are both young but we’ve both experienced a lot. 

"I've played professionally in two different countries and at the national level.  

"Tommy's played international level and played professionally, I think in three different countries.

"We've both been in every step of non-league from step one down to step four so we’ve experienced a lot for our ages.  

"We’ve accumulated a lot, good and bad, and as I said, we've always wanted to have opportunity to put what we think would work together."

Playing wise they have plenty of connections and contacts with players but the big plan, which fits in with the Arlesey ethos, is bringing the club and the town together both on and off the pitch.

Guerfi said: "Our big thing is we really want to engage the community with Arlesey Town Football Club. 

"My business goes into schools across Hertfordshire and east London so my ambition is I want to bring the schools on board and inspire the next generation at Arlesey. 

"And honestly the infrastructure that they have at the club is at step three level, even step two. 

"The facilities and infrastructure is brilliant and I want to be the mouthpiece that makes everyone in the town take notice and really drives the gates up, bring the people in but also let the kids and the next generation have something to look up to 

"Obviously right now, the main goal is turning results around on the pitch. Doing all of this in the community is great but if you're losing every week, there's no benefit. 

"We need to get the results right on the pitch first of all. 

"Once that's in place, there's work going on behind the scenes to engage the community and to engage local schools and local children and make people realise how great the football club is.  

"They work hand in hand. Performances and improving on the pitch will only lead to one thing, and that is success both on and off the pitch." 

Still being in his 20s means Guerfi will be offering his skills on the pitch too while Cooney predominantly oversees things from the sidelines.

And the assistant boss also believes the change in his outlook will mean he can produce his best form for the Blues.

The former Potters Bar Town and Welwyn Garden City midfielder said: "I'm going to be playing, I'm in contention for Saturday. 

"I made my international debut [for Tunisia] in 2020 but fell out of professional football in 2021.

"I really struggled to get the fire back in my belly. I bounced around from non-league club to non-league club but now I'm representing Arlesey Town and I believe we can do something great there.  

"I've got the fire back, I've got the motivation back to play so yeah, I'll be in contention for a starting place." 

Saturday's game sees the second-from-bottom club travel to the side directly above them in the standings, Stansted.

"It's a massive game," admitted Guerfi, "it's a six pointer, but it is a game that we're going into thinking we have to win. That’s how we’re approaching it but it’s how we approach every game. 

"We’re here to win games of football so that’s what we’re going to do. 

"The lads were really responsive and applied themselves to [our first] session. 

"I think they're buying into what Tommy and I are trying to do and what we want to do. 

"Also the changes we want to make, they agree with them, which is always a good sign. 

"We’ll train [on Thursday] and then we’re ready for Saturday."