EX-SAINT Ian Baird is on the brink of a shock switch from Havant & Waterlooville to their Blue Square South rivals Eastleigh.

Eastleigh chairman Paul Murray made a formal approach for the Hawks' manager early on Saturday evening after the Spitfires' 3-1 FA Cup win at Hamworthy United.

It is understood that Havant chairman Marcus Hackney rebuffed Eastleigh's advances for Baird, who has been at the Westleigh Park helm for almost three years and recently signed a new three-year contract.

But it is expected that Baird will submit his resignation today and be unveiled as new Eastleigh manager tomorrow with current Spitfires' team boss David Hughes willingly reverting to his old role of player/assistant manager.

Hughes took overall charge of team affairs during the summer when Saints legend Jason Dodd was invited back to St Mary's as first-team coach.

But after a bright start to the campaign, Eastleigh's results have slipped of late, culminating in chief coach Phil Handford resigning after last weekend's defeat at Welling.

Eastleigh's former coach Mark Blake was one of many names discussed as a possible replacement for Handford.

But, with Hughes not entirely comfortable in the manager's role, Eastleigh saw this as an opportunity to make a move for Baird, who is a manager and coach rolled into one.

Paul Doswell, Eastleigh's football manager and equity director, confirmed yesterday: "Following lengthy discussions between the board and magement team last week, we decided that Ian Baird was the right man to take the club forward.

"David (Hughes) had indicated that he was enjoying playing and that the management role was not necessarily for him.

"The decision to approach Havant for Ian Baird was precipitated by the fact that David wasn't enjoying managing as much as he would have liked.

"He's got a busy life outside football and would rather concentrate on playing.

"This is an opportunity to bring in a top-class manager and let Hughesy go back to doing what he does best."

Doswell will keep the title of football manager.

"I'll be the conduit between the team manager and the board, dealing with contracts, players coming in and out etc." he explained.

"I'll do whatever it takes to make Ian Baird successful at this club."

For full story see today's Daily Echo.