BASINGSTOKE Town vice-chairman Steve Murfitt is adamant the board of directors' collective decision to appoint Francis Vines as the club's new manager was not agreed upon, and sealed, before Ernie Howe's shock departure.

Less than 48 hours after Howe's Camrose exit on Saturday, Vines was installed as Basingstoke Town's boss on Monday evening.

The ex-Crawley manager, sacked in October by the Conference outfit, has been a regular visitor to Basingstoke for matches this season, more so in recent weeks - as has been noted by fans and posted on the official website forum.

But Murfitt has again refuted claims Vines was lined up to take over from Howe.

He said: "It may seem like it was all cut and dried before Ernie left, but that is not true.

"Yes, Francis has been coming down to games - he's seen about five or six games this season - but when we have spoken to him, it has been about general things, not the manager's job."

He continued: "We had a few phone calls from applicants on Sunday, but we were hoping we could get Francis.

"So we contacted him - which we had not done beforehand - to ask him if he had found another job elsewhere, which he hadn't. We then arranged to meet him as a board.

"We held a long, protracted meeting with Francis on Sunday - but we knew we had to act and make a quick appointment.

"Tomorrow is the transfer deadline and he needed a little time to make some of the changes he sees fit to make."

Murfitt revealed Vines has already made judgements about players - that some have been played out of position and some will be axed - but feels that there is a good nucleus in place, based upon the games he has seen.

And Murfitt firmly believes they have employed the right man to steer Town away from relegation trouble.

"He is a proven winner, has a good record and links with a lot of people, doesn't like losing and has brought a fresh approach.

"He is bringing two players with him and there will be playing departures.

"The players were introduced on Monday after we, as a board, answered a lot of their questions about Ernie's departure.

"I think there is a different atmosphere already and I think most are relishing playing for a new manager because things couldn't carry on until the end of the season under Ernie as they were - we had to act."

With hindsight, Murfitt admits he wishes that Howe's acrimonious departure had been handled better by the board. However, he still maintains the statement they released on Saturday was accurate.

He said the whole board - himself, commercial director Ken Taylor, Linda Murfitt and Sarah Parsons - were willing to speak to Howe on Saturday about their decision, but that David Hunt, as Howe's best friend of four decades, felt the news that the board wanted Howe to resign would be better coming from him.

First published: Thursday, March 30, 2006