Former Barnet winger Darren Currie is back at the Hive, after being appointed as the club’s new assistant manager.

Currie is no stranger to Barnet’s manager John Still, having been a part of the 68-year-old’s coaching staff at Dagenham and Redbridge for the last three years, helping the cash strapped Daggers to finish in 11th place in the National League last season.

The 43-year-old is well known to Barnet fans having enjoyed a three-year spell with the Bees as a player between 1998 and 2001, scoring 21 goals in 143 appearances.

Currie scored on his debut for the Bees and was also part of the Barnet squad which reached the Division Three play-offs, scoring one of the club’s goals of the season against Swansea City in 1999.

Speaking to Barnet’s website, Currie said: “It’s happened very quickly but with my affiliation with the club from my playing days here, I’m very pleased to be back and pleased to be working under John and the Chairman.

“Obviously, the place has changed a considerable amount since I was playing here but I’m really pleased to be back.

“It’s a brilliant challenge. The league is very tough as we know. I know Barnet have managed to get out of it in recent times, so everyone will be aware of how difficult the challenge is.

“But it’s a great challenge for us to take on and there are some good players who are already established here. We’ll obviously want to add to the team and add to the squad, which we’re in the middle of doing. But the challenge is to take the club back at the first opportunity and that’s what our target is.”

During his playing career, the 43-year-old would also enjoy spells with Wycombe Wanderers, Ipswich Town as well as Brighton and Hove Albion and he worked under Still as a player during his time with the Bees.

He then followed Still to Dagenham and Redbridge in November 2009 before starting his coaching career with the Daggers a year later, but his spell as the club’s assistant manager was brought to an end last week when his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.

Club chairman Tony Kleanthous added: “It’s always great to see past players develop their careers and Darren is an exciting young coach who we think will have a big future.

“It’s good to have him teaming up with John as we continue our preparations for next season.”

Elsewhere, the Bees have also added two more fixtures to their pre-season schedule, with West Bromwich Albion set to travel to the Hive on Saturday, 7th July, with kick off at 3pm.

Ten days later and John Still’s men will then travel to Isthmian North division side Maldon & Tiptree, who have recently appointed former Colchester United, Hull City and Leicester defender Wayne Brown as their new manager.