English hero challenge (We're promoted!)

Well done matey, one step down, plenty to go!

Tell me about it. You should see their expectations for this year!

Cheers pal. I'm going to have a real problem keeping this squad together though - most expire at the end of the year. I think we should get up this year though. I'm in the process of lowering my ridiculous wage budget and also trying to extend contracts. If I can keep this team together we can do something BIG!

Fans' Player of the Season and Best XI

Unsurprisingly, Larsson picked up the Fans' Player of the Year. The striker was scintillating last term and I hope he can continue his fine development in the Skrill Prem. The 'Best XI' was no real surprise, the only real shock to me was that Jadan Hall kept Freddie Ladapo out of the side.

I got a new contract

It was touch-and-go for a while there; I honestly thought they were just going to run my contract down. It's cruel at this level - after missing out on promotion (in the play-off final) Ebbsfleet manager Steve Brown was sacked, despite pushing me all the way over the season. That is really unfair! Stupid dismissal!

I tried to get at least a two-year deal but they weren't budging. In the end, I secured just a one-year contract. I will have to prove myself once more to get another extension. My board have set the expectations for this year - win the Skrill Prem! No pressure then!

Despite struggling financially, my board had moved to increase the size of our stadium. At the very least, we will have to stay up this term. They've invested big in this project, and they need us to do our part on the pitch.

Eastleigh release players and staff

Five players and staff have left the club, after I decided against renewing their contracts. With my Assistant Guy Butters having left, I've decided to bring in a new face - David Beckham. He may not have the best stats, but he certainly will bring a bit of glamour to Silverlake. This is a big project, we need BIG names associated with it. Becks' determination is very good some I'm hoping he will make big strides in his coaching ability this year.

Hall leaves the club

With the financial problems at the club this year, I've decided to sell Jadan Hall. Hall has joined SPL side Morton, for a fee of £20.5k - a new Eastleigh record sale.



In other news, I have renewed the loans of Souleymane Coulibaly and Jordan Jones. Jones was a real gem last term and I'm hoping he will perform again. Coulibaly didn't get much football last season (4 apps, 1 goal), but I'm hoping to use him A LOT more this campaign.

Eastleigh making the most of the loan system

I've secure the loans of Kristoffer Olsson and Jonathan Henly; Olsson, on loan from Arsenal will provide some great cover across the midfield - filling-in for the departing Jai Reason. Henly will come in as another option in goal; with Dovey having left the club in the summer I had to secure a keeper to challenge Santangelo.

Do I sell?

Sure, I need the money, the club needs the money - but it's Horvath! Sascha is tied down till 2016, but newly-relegated Everton are sniffing around him. Can I really sell such a good prospect? Villa, Watford, Norwich, Nottm Forest, and Reading have all expressed an interest in the playmaker. Fortuantley, my board aren't just accepting offers! I think I would make more on him next season - if we get up of course.

I would say let him go, that sort of money will do the squad wonders pal!

As much as I hate to admit it, I think you may be right. I do NEED the money. With the interest though, I might try and hold out for a slightly bigger offer.

Pre-season review

A really good showing in pre-season. Hopefully we can take this unbeaten form into the new campaign. It's going to be a big ask to get back-to-back promotions, but fortunately, despite not adding to the squad, we have been able to keep this team together. We're certainly good enough, and we're proven winners - let's do it again boys!

Horvath interest intensifies

My young star is the subject of a fierce transfer battle. There are A LOT of top clubs chasing our little playmaker. I hope we can keep a hold of him - I know that despite helping the club finances temporarily, keeping him could be much more valuable in the long-run. @DanW19 makes a very valid point, but right now I don't HAVE to sell, and until the point I do, Horvath is staying put!

2014/15 Skrill Premier

We've picked up exactly where we left off. Goals from Hunte, Groven, and of course that man Larsson, were enough to secure our first 3 points in the Skrill Premier. We've NEVER lost a home league game, and we never looked like losing this one! In other news, Palace manager Tony Pulis and Stoke manager Mark Hughes were at the game to watch Horvath, who incidentally was forced off with an injury after 35 mins.

Nb. We are actually playing at Privett Park at the minute - Gosport's stadium. Not sure if that counts to our unbeaten league run at Silverlake!?

Ladapo's back

Having let Hall go in the summer, and with Jordan Jones currently out injured, I've decided to add a bit of depth by loaning Freddie Ladapo. We know what we're getting with Ladapo, and I hope he can reach the same level he did last term.

Another win as our fine form continues. Baumgartner and substitute Coulibaly were on-hand to secure a first away win. I'm so pleased that despite making a lot of changes to the side that won against Exeter we were able to win, and more importantly keep another clean sheet.

Another win as the man of the moment Horvath hits a hat-trick. The interest in the Austrian will no doubt increase exponentially following this incredible showing. Have I made the right decision keeping him? Only time will tell.

Horvath stars again as we continue our winning start to life in the Skrill Premier. Despite going behind early on to a wonder strike, we came back to record a vital away victory. Despite the rather large offers coming in for Horvath (the latest from Southampton), I'm not sure if I can afford to sell him. This is a dilemma I didn't think I would have to face until we were at least in league football.

Goals from Horvath and Hunte are enough to secure another home victory. We came from behind after an absolute wonder goal to secure 3 valuable points. Larsson has been very poor the last couple of games and I think I'm going to have to leave him out for a while - he's had the chances, he just doesn't seem to be converting them at the minute.

We've ended the month with yet another victory. That's 6 wins from 6 for August - not a bad start to life in a higher division! Horvath was on-target again - he really is enjoying his best EVER form at the club right now. Ladapo was the Man of the Match, grabbing an assist and a goal to secure another 3 valuable points. Last season we lost 3-1 away to Whitehawk, so this really has shown how far we have come!

Surely rejecting many more bids for Horvath will begin to make him unhappy and ruin his and potentially the squads morale?

I was thinking that too, but strangely he doesn't seem to be affected by it. Believe me, if it were a problem, I would let him go. I wouldn't keep him if he didn't want to stay. I think he is actually quite happy. He's just agreed to a new contract - on lower wages and with a 1-year extension clause. He said he signed due to his admiration for me. I don't know maybe he wants to see how far we can go. He's has been on fire this season too - his morale couldn't be better.

You do make a very valid point though Dan. If he does kick-up a fuss, he will have to go. The team is always more important that one player. This won't become a Man Utd - Rooney situation!

August review

18 points from a possible 18! What a great start to the new campaign. If we add the back-end of last season, that means we've won the last 12 matches in a row! Incredible form! With all the talk surrounding the young Austrian it should be no surprise to find that he was the star player this month; Horvath has now scored 6 league goals in just 5 appearances - compared to his 9 league goals in 24 games last term, you can see he is just getting better and better. In other news, I've just collected my first Skrill Premier Manager of the Month award. That's 5 manager awards so far - not bad!

We've kicked-off September in the same style we finished August, beating Dartford 1-0. Larsson has finally found his shooting boots, netting from a penalty on 17 mins. We've certainly improved defensively this year - that's our third clean sheet in seven games.

In the absence of Tibbling (injured 4-5 weeks) and Horvath (7 weeks - 2 months), Larsson stepped-up to secure another valuable home victory. The gamed finished 4-1 with the young Swede netting ALL four Eastleigh goals! That win leaves us 3 points clear at the top with 2 games in-hand.

Another win as goals from Larsson and Ladapo down a spirited Newport side. Both goals came just before half-time, surely knocking all the confidence out of the home team.

Another big win as we make it 10 from 10! Larsson and Jones were in fine form to help secure another big home victory. For our first season in the Skrill Premier it really couldn't get any better - an absolutely fantastic start from the boys! We might have enough about us to secure back-to-back promotions. It's a long season though - we must concentrate.

No honeymoon lasts forever! We were brought back down to earth in crushing style. Beaten 4-2 despite completely dominating the game. It was bound to happen! The game was full of controversial decisions, including a dubious penalty decision. In other news, we also picked up a fair few injuries meaning our side is in real trouble right now!

A thread-bare Eastleigh were well and truly beaten by an on-form Barnet side. Having knocked us out of the FA Trophy last year, I was keen to get some revenge - unfortunately, it didn't work out. We weren't anywhere near as bad as the scoreline says, but the way our form is right now, we just can't catch a break.