MANAGER Neil Hards has been told it's business as usual at Winchester City - despite the departure of director of football and money man David Malone.

Describing Malone's resignation, as revealed in Friday's Echo, as "a smack from the blue", Hards has sought clarification about the club's future from chairman Richard Newsome - and, so far, he's encouraged by what he's heard.

Speaking after City had opened their defence of the FA Vase with a 6-2 victory at Wessex rivals Alton Town, Hards said: "I was with Andy Forbes (last season's leading scorer) picking up his non-League player-of-the-year award when I got Dave's text saying he was resigning. I had no idea it was coming.

"For me, the most important people at the club are the players. I needed to make sure everything was still in place to go forward and I've had clarification from the chairman today.

"I've been told that everything that's been promised will be met and as far as I'm concerned, nothing changes.

"I know a lot of people are waiting for us to fall flat on our faces, but as long as I'm here we won't do that.

"We were awesome in the first half today. It was just the response I was looking for.

"We're a very close-knit group and we'll fight tooth and nail to stay together and be successful. We've achieved a lot and I'm not prepared to chuck it all in the bin."

To ensure talk of Malone's departure didn't overshadow proceedings, Hards took the perfect prop along to keep his players' minds on the job.

"Team talk? I didn't need one," he said. "I just bunged the FA Vase in the middle of the dressing room and that was all the motivation they needed.

"The reaction I got was top class and it showed the togetherness and spirit we've got."

Although Malone professed himself depressed by the simplicity of City's 10-0 Wessex romp at Hamble the previous week, he still turned up to watch Winchester waltz to another comfortable victory.

Two second-half goals from striker Steve Poulton added a touch of respectability for Hugh Doyle's men but, in truth, the tie was over by half-time.

The rot set in for the home side when defender Gareth Billington inadvertently turned in Shaun Dyke's low, cross-shot after seven minutes and further punishment followed from Jamie Laidlaw, Mark Smith and Jamie Musselwhite.

Smith helped himself to another three minutes after the break and it was his blocked shot that set up Laidlaw to score in 60th minute - the 25th goal of a prolific season for the former Bashley, Newport and Chichester marksman.

The 27-year-old admitted: "It was a shock on Thursday when we found out David Malone was leaving but we've got a good bunch of boys here and all anyone wants to do is play football and keep winning.

"Things are going well so far. We're top of the Wessex and we've just started a run in the Vase, which we've got every chance of going on and winning. Hopefully nothing's going to change."

Poulton's two goals, both set up by RAF man Mike Douglas, cheered up an otherwise disappointing day for Alton boss Doyle, who expected more from his side in the opening half.

He admitted: "I knew it would be difficult against Winchester today but what disappointed me was our first-half performance. A few of the players froze and that's hard to take.

"We prepared well and went into the match with the right attitude but you know you're in trouble when five or six players don't perform.

"I told the players at half-time you're not going to win and there'll be no romanticism here, but you've got to go out and salvage some pride and we drew the second half 2-2."

Backing Winchester to put Malone's shock news behind them and successfully defend their trophy, Doyle added: "We've probably played this season's Vase winners today. Providing they don't draw each other, I'd expect Winchester, Sudbury and Bideford to be three of the teams in the last four."