EASTLEIGH chairman Stewart Donald says the club’s new permanent management team of Richard Hill and Andy Hessenthaler must spend their extra money wisely in the summer if they are to compete in the National League.
Hill returned for his second stint as boss of the Spitfires in February, steadying the ship after the club’s season went from bad to worse under Chris Todd, then Ronnie Moore and finally Martin Allen.
Initially only caretaker boss, Hill has been confirmed as manager for next season too and has brought in former Gillingham and Leyton Orient chief Hessenthaler as his assistant.
The pair have plenty of experience at National League level and above and Donald says extra cash will be there for the duo to improve the squad.
Despite having one of, if not the biggest budget in Non-League‘s top flight, the Spitfires finished a disappointing 15th, 25 points adrift of the play-offs.
“We should be achieving much more than we have this year for the money we’ve been spending,” Donald told BBC Radio Solent
“Since Richard left the first time, I’ve given other managers more money to spend on the squad than he had.
“I’m hoping that if we can give him a little bit of that extra money, we will do a lot better. But, Richard and Andy have got to spend the money right over the summer.”
