EASTLEIGH are standing by their phones tonight hoping to push through a new signing or two ready for Saturday's huge Vanarama National League test at second-placed Forest Green Rovers.

The Spitfires are desperate to freshen up their squad after a worrying run of seven league games without a win that has threatened to derail their play-off push.

Eastleigh’s last three outings have ended in defeat at Lincoln, Kidderminster and Gateshead and there could be no tougher February finale than away to a Rovers side who, along with Gloucestershire neighbours Cheltenham Town, are taking the league by storm.

Spitfires chairman Stewart Donald revealed earlier this week that there were irons in the fire for a midfielder/defender and winger.

They had been hoping to get at least one signing over the line yesterday, but manager Chris Todd said today: “It didn’t go through. I’m still waiting on a phone call and we’re hoping to get something sorted in the next 24 hours. There may be a new face in the squad for Saturday.”

Donald himself tweeted this evening: "Long day at @eastleighfc today! Progress on the recruitment front thou as we look to bolster squad for the final push!! #newplayers."

There had been no sign of the drastic decline to come when Eastleigh beat Forest Green 3-2 at the Silverlake in mid-October.

Coming on the back of outstanding away wins at Wrexham and Tranmere, it set the seal on Todd’s permanent appointment as successor to Richard Hill.

A phenomenal run of results followed with just one defeat in 19 league and cup games but, since the distraction of the FA Cup third round tie against Bolton, they have gone ten without a win.

Tuesday was another massive disappointment, the Spitfires conceding twice in six first-half minutes at Gateshead on their way to a 2-1 defeat that dropped them to eighth.

Todd’s challenge now is getting an undoubtedly talented squad to click again.

“We’ve got good enough players,” he said. “It’s making sure they turn up on the day.

“Forest Green - and Cheltenham - seem unbeatable, every game they keep winning.

“We know they’re expected to beat us on Saturday and we have to respect them being top (second) of the league, but we’ll give it a good go.”

One FGR player Todd will be well aware of is midfielder Rob Sinclair who played with him – and Eastleigh’s recent Portsmouth loan signing Matt Tubbs – at Salisbury City.

Tubbs is still regaining match sharpness and has not had much of a sniff so far in front of goal.

But Sinclair, outstanding as FGR triumphed 2-0 at FC Halifax last Saturday – their seventh win in eight games - is a big fan of the 31-year-old striker.

“Tubbsy’s a very clever footballer, a fox in the box, and we’ll have to be aware of that,” he said. “He’ll get in good positions and, as long as we can stop that, we’ll be stopping their main threat.”

Eastleigh will be boosted tomorrow by the return of Jai Reason after a two-match ban.

The trip is a designated ‘big away day’ for the Spitfires who hope to improve on the 400-plus travelling fans who cheered them to a 1-1 draw at Cheltenham in October.