Barnet Football Club can this morning confirm the return of Martin Allen as manager to join the push to retain our EFL status.

Allen’s fifth spell in charge of the Bees will get underway this weekend with a trip to Luton Town live in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

His playing career saw him represent Queens Park Rangers, West Ham United, Portsmouth and Southend United before he took the step into management.

Starting in the dugout at Underhill in 2003, he would assemble a side that would later challenge for the play-offs.

Allen departed for Brentford and would save them from relegation to the Third Division before leading them to two play-off campaigns.

He would then take charge of MK Dons, Leicester City and Cheltenham Town before an unbeaten three-game spell back at Barnet in 2011.

Notts County followed before returning to Underhill, guiding the Bees to Football League safety on the final day of the 2011/12 season with a 2-1 win away at Burton Albion.

In 2012, Allen took over at Gillingham and would guide the club to the League Two title.

Allen arrived back at The Hive in the 2013/14 season and the following year would guide the Bees to their third Conference title. The Bees would finish 15th in League Two the next season before Allen departed to take on a new challenge at National League side Eastleigh.

Everyone at The Hive London would like to wish Martin the best of luck as he joins our fight to keep Barnet in the Football League.

The Club would like to encourage every Bees fan out there to get behind Martin and the team for our crucial 8-game run in and for us all to pull together as we look to maintain our league status.

Barnet Football Club can also confirm the departure of Head Coach Graham Westley and Head of Technical Mark McGhee with immediate effect. We would like to thank Graham and Mark for all their effort and hard work whilst at the club.