SAINTS legend Jason Dodd is the new manager of non-League Eastleigh.

In a shock move at the Silverlake Stadium, Paul Doswell, the man who has steered the Spitfires on their remarkable journey from the Wessex League to the Conference South, has passed Dodd the first-team reins and stepped up to director of football.

Dodd - a former skipper and a veteran of nearly 500 appearances for Saints -will be assisted by fellow ex-Dell stars David Hughes and Mark Dennis.

David Malone, the current director of football, becomes managing director.

The changes were made at Doswell's request in the wake of Saturday's dismal 4-0 home thrashing by Bognor Regis, which has left Eastleigh one off the bottom of the Conference South.

Only two weeks ago, Doswell's frustration boiled over when he accused his team of "playing as if they were trying to get me the sack" following defeat at Cambridge City.

And he made it clear that despite his financial input as one of six equity directors, his position as manager was not bullet proof' and he pledged to stand down at the end of the season if they were relegated.

Doswell has decided to act now, however -- both for his own well-being and for the good of the club.

He believes that as Eastleigh have grown to such a monumental degree, he has taken on more than he can manage.

He said: "As every supporter knows, I have only the best interests of Eastleigh FC at heart.

"With my new status as director at the club since the summer, I find myself, with this added responsibility, unable to devote 100 per cent of my time as football manager.

"I will still be totally involved with everything at the football club and this decision has nothing to do with my future at the club.

"I will still be here in ten or 15 years' time.

"I've been proud to be team manager, but I think now is the time to move things on."

Dodd, who joined Eastleigh as a player in the summer, had only recently become first-team coach having been forced to hang up his boots due to ankle trouble.

"Jason's come into the fold in the last month and impressed us all," said Doswell.

"He comes across well to the lads and we feel he's the right man to take the club forward.

"He's new to non-League, but that's where I will come in. Jason's main responsibility will be to coach the players and pick the team.

"All the other stuff like spotting players, buying players and sorting out contracts will probably be done by myself."

Dodd's first game in charge is tonight when Eastleigh host Wessex outfit VT FC in the Hampshire Senior Cup third round.

Full story: see today's Daily Echo