"ERNIE Howe must stay and lead us in the Conference South."

That is the clear message from the Basingstoke Town FC faithful and club officials, who want the long-serving manager to remain at the helm and usher in an exciting new era at the Camrose.

Supporters of Howe (pictured) have rallied behind the crestfallen 51-year-old after he admitted he was seriously considering ending his tenure following a difficult and trying campaign in charge.

Howe made his feelings known after the play-off defeat to Lewes 10 days ago, because Town's loss effectively ensured a disastrous relegation.

They had missed out on the Conference South and were set to drop another division, pushing them further away from the Conference National league.

But in a remarkable reversal of fortunes, Hendon, who finished fourth in the Ryman premier, decided at the weekend to withdraw from the Conference South.

Town, as the next-highest-placed finishers to the 13th place cut-off point for automatic qualification, have now taken Hendon's spot.

The major surprise has been sinking-in since Sunday, when Town's senior directors received official confirmation that the Blues numbered among the 22 Conference South clubs.

And all those who were backing Howe before the boost of the club's promotion are now praying it will be enough to make him stay.

Basingstoke Town Limited (BTL) vice-chairman Steve Murfitt said: "We really hope that getting into the new league will convince Ernie to stay.

"He does a great job and works very hard for the club, as does his assistant Pete Peters, under difficult circumstances.

"We have now achieved our objective of getting into the new league and we want them both to stay on and plan for the club's future in it."

BTL commercial director Ken Taylor said: "The board of directors are fully backing him. Nobody has asked or wants him to leave.

"I feel Ernie is being unfairly judged, because people don't know the full extent of the behind-the-scenes problems.

"It has been a massive hindrance. We've had to work very hard and make a lot of cuts, yet people still aren't giving us a chance.

"These are some of the main issues that are getting Ernie down. The scale of them has been huge, and we've made a lot of progress. But we want to continue to remedy the problems so that Ernie isn't having to deal with them, as he does now.

"The new board wants to let people know things are different and we are willing to work with the council and our sponsors to help take this club forward.

"Hopefully, Ernie will want to stay on and I certainly think he should."

Although still very subdued as he ponders his future, ex-QPR defender Howe was in better spirits after Town's lucky break.

He told The Gazette: "Fortune is definitely smiling on Hampshire, what with us getting this news and Farnborough also staying in the Conference by default.

"You need a little bit of luck in football, and when you look at it, getting this has been the biggest break of our season.

"It's great news for the club and all our genuine supporters because we have obviously achieved our season's goal."

Last Saturday, Howe was visibly touched when the loyal supporters filled Imber Court with his "barmy army" song as the reserves played their Suburban League Challenge Shield final at Met Police.

But he remains tight-lipped about whether making the Conference South will affect his decision about his future.

He said: "It's nice to be part of it, but it doesn't change the facts and issues that need to be discussed."

Howe admitted he thought the circumstances surrounding Hendon's decision to pull out were "a little bit strange", but understood why they had delayed their announcement until the end of the season.

Basingstoke Town secretary Richard Trodd disagreed, saying: "I still think that Hendon, knowing what they were going to do, could have stopped all the heartache of the play-offs and not put Ernie under the pressure he was. We could have enjoyed the end of the season a lot more if they'd told people earlier."

He added: "We've slipped in by default, but, like everyone, I hope Ernie stays and that he gets the financial support to build a side that will compete in the Conference South."

Jim Gould, of the Friends of Basingstoke Town group, who have raised nearly £14,000 towards Howe's budget through various initiatives since their inception in October 2002, said: "The club will never get anyone as devoted or skilled as Ernie. He puts in a lot of work around the ground with his carpentry, and has had a lot of the club's financial troubles to deal with before he can even focus on what he's best at - football.

"It would be very sad if he called it a day, and I sincerely hope he doesn't. Supporters want him here."

Town fan Ian Trodd, who is also the club's press officer, said: "People this year seem to have forgotten how hard Ernie and all his coaching staff work, and not just on match days.

"He, quite simply, is Mr Basingstoke Town and all of us within the club cannot think of anyone better to take the club into a new era in the Conference South.

"I believe that in giving Ernie some faith, everyone will be repaid."