The arrival of Matt Briggs makes seven new signings in total at Boro’ this summer and Gale was quick to point out the support of Chairman Iain McInnes in getting this latest deal done.

“First of all I have to thank the Chairman for it. He has backed me saying we need some marquee signings if we can,” revealed Gale.

“It’s very difficult at our level.

“We are competing with some very good clubs around here who have got some good players, the likes of Havant and Eastleigh, we are not going to compete with them they’re higher than us up the ladder.

“So to be able to bring Matt in, someone of his quality and experience is massive and that is down to the Chairman really and how he backed me.”

Gale is confident Briggs is going to be a “big signing for us” and was already impressed by what he has seen so far.

He continued: “He played 45 minutes at Horndean he was decent - he is a good player.

“It’s a great signing for us.

“I’m really excited to work with him, he’s a really nice lad and on what we saw the other night I’m really pleased.”

Briggs joins an already strong set of defenders and Gale is looking for the Guyana International’s experience to have a positive impact on the team.

He added: “We have some good centre halves, some good young centre halves but you do need your experience through the spine of your team and that is what we are trying to build and build around it.

“Matt will come in and play centre half, he’s a left footer as well so that will give us a better balance as well, whether we want to play a three or play a four.”