RICHARD HILL didn’t even want his wages for September after falling on his sword at Eastleigh this week – but chairman Stewart Donald is expecting an avalanche of managers seeing the pound signs.
The Spitfires were expected to challenge for the National League title this season after another summer of further investment, but they’ve endured a slow start.
Four defeats in September, culminating in Tuesday’s night’s 5-2 home reversal to Dover Athletic, left Hill deflated. He quit the next morning and after exactly three years at the helm, the former Watford and Northampton striker called time.
Hill, who had a win percentage of 55, said: “I remember back to conversations I had with people in football who had just quit their jobs and I asked them why on earth they’d left. The answers were always the same: ‘you just know when it’s time’.
“People really don’t realise how intense it is at a club expected to do well at this level, it’s intense – bloody intense.
“I’ve got nothing but good to say about the people at Eastleigh. The chairman hasn’t put an ounce of pressure on me but the time is right.
“I felt if I leave now, I give the new manager the best opportunity to take the club to promotion. If I would have stood around until November, the time may not have been there. They can still win the league.”
It’s a job to interest many, Eastleigh are seen as one of the biggest spenders outside of the Football League and those linked include Woking‘s long-serving boss Garry Hill. Former Conference champion Paul Cox, 43, is known to have applied, the Spitfires’ Conference South winning captain Glen Southam has also thrown his hat into the ring.
Donald said his next pick could shape the club’s ascent through the divisions and is determined to take his time as the CVs fly in.
He told The NLP: “Richard’s a man of honour and a friend. It came as a shock but my gut instinct was that he would resign – it was still a sad and surreal conversation to have.
“He didn’t want a penny, not even the money he was owed. He could have held on and waited for a pay off, but no – he’s done what he feel is right for the club over what is best for himself.
“I don’t think morally I could let that happen but it’s a mark of the man that he has walked away in the way he has. He’s done fantastic things for the club and should be remembered fondly.
“I’ve only ever had to find a new manager once before and it won’t be a quick process. There are some out there that see Eastleigh as a club with money before a club with ambition, but we’ll make the right decision.
“There are a few who have applied that have had a few things to say about us in the past too which is strange! The response so far has been encouraging, there are some decent names in already. I received CVs and phone calls minutes after our statement went up!”
