EASTLEIGH chairman Stewart Donald says he will be guided by director of football Richard Hill about the management set-up for next season.

With National League survival finally secured, the Spitfires hierarchy are in discussions about the best direction to take for 2017/18.

After a rollercoaster season that has seen three managers – Chris Todd, Ronnie Moore and Martin Allen – depart, Donald is indebted to Hill for steadying the ship in a caretaker capacity.

He would back him all the way if he wanted to take the job on permanently himself or appoint someone else as team boss.

“I’ll be guided by Richard,” said Donald.

“The vibe I’ve got from him is that he’d like a go at it, but we have got three candidates that Richard’s happy with, one especially who he thinks can do a very good job.

“In reality I think Richard would like a year at it – and he probably deserves that.

“If he decides to do it, I’ve got confidence that, with the right structure around him, we could be successful.”

It was Hill who led the Spitfires into non-League's top-flight as 2013/14 Conference South champions and Donald senses he has “unfinished business” at the club.

Hill would have a bigger budget to work with this time round but Donald trusts him implicitly to use it wisely, observing: “He has a history of spending my money very well.”

Eastleigh head to Solihull Moors on Saturday for their last away game of the campaign before rounding things off at home to Wrexham on April 29 (12.15pm kick-off).

Solihull are hovering just three points above the drop zone.

Asked if he was tempted to ring some changes now that Eastleigh are safe, Hill said: “I’ve still got a duty to other managers and other clubs.

“Dave Penney, the assistant at (19th-placed) Guiseley is a very good friend of mine and, in my eyes, Gary Mills (boss of 20th-placed York) is a legend.

“Immaterial of all that, I’m a caretaker manager whose job is to win football matches not to not care because he’s safe.

“If I have to make changes it will be because of tired legs and niggles, not because I’m experimenting.”

Veteran centre-back Paul Reid broke his nose in Monday’s 2-1 win over Bromley and must be doubtful.

“Reidy’s played two games in quick succession, he’s sore and he hasn’t trained,” said Hill.

“But in the last eight games he’s played in, we’ve picked up 13 points. Is that a coincidence?”