A LONG talk with chairman Richard Newsome has given Winchester City boss Neil Hards renewed hope for the future.

There was a time earlier this week when Hards suspected he might lose his job in the fall-out that followed director of football David Malone's departure from the Wessex League leaders.

But, far from walking away a depressed man after City's 3-0 home win over Cowes Sports on Tuesday, the boss was feeling markedly more upbeat about the future. He said: "I've been told by the chairman that a new stand is being delivered in a couple of weeks and that ground improvements are being done in readiness for Ryman League football.

"There are a lot of people working very hard to put things in place and Tuesday's meeting was very productive. Everything's settled down a bit now."

Hards has also been assured that finances are in place to pay the players at the end of the month. If so, clubs like Basingstoke Town, who are interested in Matt Bicknell and Lloyd Webber, would either have to cough up a transfer fee or hope to get them on a free when their contracts expire.

Hards explained: "I gave Basingstoke permission to speak to Lloyd and Matty as I didn't want the players to be left sitting on their bums if everything went pear-shaped at Winchester.

"But if the wages come through - and the club have said they will - it means their contracts will not have been broken and I think the players will want to stay here and finish what they set out to do at the start of the season - win the Wessex League and get promoted.

"All any of us have ever wanted is to play higher grade football and I think we'd rather stick together and do it at Winchester than in dribs and drabs at other clubs.

"If the players can see the club are doing their bit by getting the ground work done, then I don't think there's a problem about people staying here."

Hards's more immediate concern is getting a fit side together for tomorrow's home game against Moneyfields.

The ex-goalkeeper was so hard up for players against Cowes in midweek that he had to name himself as a substitute!

Mark Jones's broken toe left veteran midfielder Gary Green partnering Ian Buckman at the back but, encouragingly, sweeper Liam Green and midfielder Mark Smith both climbed off the subs' bench after injury.

"I didn't feel Liam or Smithy were quite ready, but it was a case of needs must," said Hards.

"The pair of them have been greatly missed, because they add another aspect to our play.

"Hopefully, we can put them in tomorrow.

"Young Jamie Austen, who's been massively impressive at centre-half, might also be back involved after injury. The lad's a really good find from Sunday League football and that's all thanks to Kevin Dixon (reserve/ youth development manager), who brings some terrific, young talent to the club."

According to Hards, there is an offer of £1,500 on the table from Malone's new club Salisbury City for striker Jamie Musselwhite, but he said: "If they'd care to put another nought on the end and make it £15,000 it might be acceptable, but we're not going to be cherry-picked by other clubs.

"Thanks to Steve Moss, Mussels has developed into a bloody good centre-forward. But, much of that's down to the lad himself for scoring goals. It's also down to the coaching we've invested in him."