JEROME OKIMO will be a key figure in Wealdstone’s bid to find a winning formula.

The 32-year-old centre-back is the Stones’ double title-winning captain and his experience will be needed to shore up a leaky defence that has conceded far too many goals in the club’s first season back in non-league’s top flight.

Okimo began his career at Chalfont St Peter where he made 308 appearances but missed out on a contract at Gillingham in 2009 following a trial after picking up an injury.

After seven years at Chalfont, Okimo joined Wealdstone - then playing in the Isthmian League Premier Division - in the summer of 2013, playing an instrumental role in their promotion to the Conference South in 2014.

That impressive campaign, where he made 38 appearances, led to Okimo moving to Stevenage in August 2014, making his debut as a late substitute in a 1-0 win over Hartlepool.

After two seasons with Stevenage where he made 42 Football League appearances, Okimo was released and he signed for National League side Braintree Town in July 2016.

Okimo spent the 2016-17 season with the Iron where he was a regular in defence before rejoining Wealdstone for a second stint in the summer of 2017.

Since returning to Grosvenor Vale, Okimo successfully marshalled Wealdstone to 17 clean sheets last season as well as promotion to the National League.

He has now made more than 100 appearances for the Stones and has played in every single National League game this term.