NEW Eastleigh boss Jason Dodd can't help but be impressed with the off-field progress the Conference South club have made this season.

Trouble is, events on the pitch have struggled to keep pace with developments off it.

So instead of eyeing promotion to the Conference National, the Spitfires find themselves entrenched in a relegation dogfight - a struggle totally at odds with their impressive, new-look Silverlake Stadium and the thriving commercial department that supports it.

With a brand, spanking all-weather facility and a newly refurbished clubhouse now open for business, Eastleigh continue to make giant strides transforming the old Ten Acres site.

Crowds have improved beyond all recognition too with average gates up to 744.

It was just a pity that when 913 flocked in for what would be Paul Doswell's final game as team boss last Saturday, their reward' was an atrocious 4-0 hiding by Bognor.

Two days later Doswell announced he had moved upstairs to become director of football and handed the managerial reins to Saints legend Dodd.

Assessing the size of the task facing him, 36-year-old Dodd said: "The club itself has now overtaken the playing side.

"What with the facilities, the artificial pitch and the commercial side, Eastleigh have made huge progress off the park but maybe we've taken our eye off the ball a bit with what's been happening on the park.

"It's only us who can turn that around."

Full story in this weekend's Pink.