INTERIM AFC Totton boss Steve Hollick would love to do the job on a permanent basis.

After just one game in caretaker charge – a desperately unlucky 1-0 defeat at Yate – the goalkeeping coach feels suitably inspired to throw his hat into the ring as successor to Steve Riley.

“I was asked to take the side for the last six games and I’m happy with that, but I’d like the opportunity to sit down with chairman Andy Straker and discuss what’s happening,” said Hollick.

“This is one of the best jobs in the south with the facilities and with Andy and Roy (Edwards) getting things together off the pitch.

“Anyone in my position would want it.”

At 38, Hollick is a good age to launch a managerial career.

“When I was at Bashley I managed the reserves for a bit, but that was a long time ago,” he said.

“But with the way things went last Saturday, the response of the players and Kitch (under-16 boss Shaun Kitcher) helping me out in the dugout, why not? I’m really enjoying it and relishing the opportunity to do it for as long as I possibly can.

“Everything’s in limbo at the moment, but I presume the chairman’s had lots of applications and will be getting a shortlist together.

“Whether it will be decided now or at the end of the season, I don’t know, but the players are starting to ask what’s happening and player contracts need to be renewed.”

Despite the club not advertising the post, interest has already reached double figures.

“We’ve had around ten applications come in,” Straker confirmed. “In fact I got one the day Steve (Riley) stepped down!

“No decision’s been made yet, but we know where we want to go and what we want to do and, in an ideal world, we’ll announce it before the season ends.”

Whoever lands the job, it will be imperative to work closely with the Stags’ youth/reserve set-up.

“Why spend time and money running under-16s, under-18s and reserves if you’re not going to use them?” asked Straker.

“The person who comes in must be able to lead them (the youth/reserves), use players from there, find new players and use the players we’ve got.

“We had Shaun Kitcher helping Steve (Hollick) at Yate and we were unlucky not to get something.

“If Steve can get another performance like that out of the team tomorrow, people might think that maybe we’ve got someone (suitable for the job). The fans need to see a difference in the team and let’s hope we’ll see another good, hard-working display.”

Tomorrow’s visit of North Leigh in the Southern One South & West is a ‘kids go free’ day at the Testwood Stadium.

Hollick has no injury worries, but work commitments rule out Zac Mouland for the rest of the season, while crowd pleaser Mike Gosney has returned to Gosport Borough after reaching the end of his permitted loan period.

“We’ll miss Mike massively for his footballing ability and, also, his presence in the dressing room. The younger lads look up to him,” said Hollick. “We’d like to have kept him, but his 93 days were up. It’s up to someone else to step up now.”

Totton’s second Easter game takes them to Fleet Town on Monday (3pm).