JOHN Dawson says AFC Totton have "a blank sheet of paper at the present time" as the search begins for a new manager.

But the Testwood Park chairman wants the club to act sooner rather than later to fill the void left by John Robson's departure to Bashley.

He said: "Much depends on what response we get and what emerges in the next few days, but I don't want a long spell in limbo.

"It's not good for clubs to be left open to manipulation and speculation. Anyone interested should send in something in writing or let me know.

"I'd like to think we're a club who play good football and have a degree of integrity about us. We don't spout our mouths off all over the place and, as John Robson said recently, we keep ourselves to ourselves."

Robson has left the Stags in a healthy state, sitting second in the table going into tonight's 'home' fixture against Alton Town.

His departure after just seven months has come as a blow to the club, but Dawson says it was an amicable parting of the ways.

He said: "John very decently told us last Tuesday that he was going for an interview at Bashley and we girded our loins knowing they'd probably make him an offer he couldn't refuse. John's very ambitious and so are Bashley and the two things came together on the same plane earlier than they would have done with us."

Former Bashley boss Barry Blankley is one of the first names being linked with the post. Robson's assistant Gary Birch and reserve team manager Ian Shields will jointly run the team again tonight after guiding them to a 2-1 win at Blackfield on Saturday.

FA Vase first round proper: (matches to be played on Saturday, October 18): Abingdon Town v Fareham Town, AFC Newbury v Littlehampton Town, AFC Totton v Bedfont, Andover v Hillingdon Borough, BAT Sports v Ash Utd, Bemerton Heath Harlequins v Bridport or Fairford Town, Liskeard Athletic or Keynsham Town v Downton, Moneyfields v Steyning Town, Rye & Iden Utd v Gosport Borough, Thatcham Town v St Leonards, Whitchurch Utd v Three Bridges, Wimborne Town v Bishop's Cleeve.