Former Chatham Town manager Scott Lindsey will be managing in League 2 this coming season.

Lindsey left Chatham a year ago, just weeks before the start of their Southern Counties East league campaign to work under Ben Garner as Swindon’s assistant manager. Last season, the Wiltshire side made the play-offs, losing on penalties to Port Vale in the semi-finals.

While at Chatham, Lindsey helped turned the club’s on-field fortunes around and his playing style was one that chairman Kevin Hake was keen to stick with when he took over following his departure. It's a philosophy that got him the Swindon job.

Swindon were left looking for a new manager this summer after Garner was appointed as Charlton Athletic’s new boss.

Rather than follow Garner to the Valley, Lindsey has taken the opportunity to return to the hotseat himself, named on Monday as Swindon’s new first-team head coach - effectively the manager.

Swindon were keen for continuity, with a style of play different to many of the other top teams in League 2, preferring to rely on footballing ability rather than raw pace and power.

The club said Lindsey “was instrumental in instilling the brand of football that spearheaded Town's success last year.”

It was the same kind of football that he had got Chatham Town playing.

Swindon also praised Lindsey for his work in developing players, including Chatham-born Ellis Iandolo who he took there in 2015 while working as a youth coach within the club. A former Gillingham youth team player who also spent time at Maidstone United, 24-year-old Iandolo was a mainstay of the Swindon team last season as they pushed for promotion.

Town’s technical director Sandro Di Michele said: “Scott clearly believes in a possession-based, attacking brand of football and he fully supports our data lead recruitment strategy.

“He is hugely respected by the players and has been integral to their development. All these factors made Scott the standout choice and I’m incredibly excited for the future of Swindon Town Football Club with Scott as head coach.”

Lindsey has enjoyed being back at Swindon, saying: “It is big for me and my family.

“I worked here back in 2015 as the youth coach, I then came back with Ben (Garner) as the assistant manager last year and my family have really embraced it. My children all go in the Town End for most home games, and try to get to a lot of the away games too, so it is a really proud moment for me.”

Lindsey - the son of former Gills player Keith Lindsey - should now get the chance to manage against his former team Gillingham, who he played for himself during the 1994-95 season. He also worked within the youth set-up for a time at the club. The teams will meet in League 2 this season.

His list of Kent clubs as a player is extensive, with spells at Dover, Sittingbourne, Ashford, Gravesend, Welling, Folkestone and Maidstone.