Stevenage have appointed former Colorado Rapids boss Gary Smith as their new manager.

The ex-Arsenal scout replaces Graham Westley who departed the Lamex Stadium earlier this month to join fellow League One outfit Preston.

Smith arrives after leaving Colorado late last year, where he guided the Rapids to the MLS Championship Cup in 2010 and the play-offs in 2011.

The 43-year-old takes over from caretaker player-manager Mark Roberts, who has guided Stevenage to sixth in the table with seven points in their last three games. 

Smith watched from the stands as Boro continued their hot streak with victory against fellow play-off rivals MK Dons on Tuesday night and was impressed with what he saw.

“This team is on such a good run, there isn’t an awful lot I want to change about the group,” he said. 

“I hope I can be a support for some of the guys and point them in a direction if needed but there’s already a good balance and spirit and I just want to make sure that defenders defend and forwards look nice and bright and are a threat.

“I think this team have got all of those qualities at the moment. I’m sure at some point there’s going to be the need for a little tinkering but I am very pleased to be coming into a group who are in such a good vein of form.”

Boro’s midweek triumph was their fifth victory in seven games, closing the gap on second place to eight points in the process.

The Hertfordshire side are proving one of this season’s surprise packages and can be backed at 8/1 with Stan James to clinch a second successive promotion.