EASTLEIGH chairman Stewart Donald is hoping to appoint a current Football League manager to replace Ronnie Moore.

Moore declined to comment when contacted by the Daily Echo last night but Donald admits he "was not 100 per cent surprised" by the 63 year-old's shock exit.

He is now hoping to speak to one of the other candidates he spoke to before Moore succeeded Chris Todd in August.

Donald said: "We have a lot we want to achieve and have got to make sure we get the right man.

"It was common knowledge we wanted more experience and that's probably still the case.

"I have a good clear idea of what we want to do and I think I can get some movement soon, possibly [before the weekend].

"There's a manager I would like to talk to. I need to talk to the [Football League] club because he's employed at the moment but I've made a tentative enquiry.

"If they let me speak to him he's someone I would very much like."

Ronnie's former assistant, Kevin Watson took charge of training this morning.

"It's been very sudden and is just one of those things," continued Donald, who is away on business this weekend so will not be at Sunday's FA Cup second-round tie against FC Halifax.

"I'm sure Ronnie will come strong when he's organised the things he has to organise."

Donald does not believe another club's interest is the reason Moore has left Eastleigh so suddenly, despite rumours linking him with a return to managerless Rotherham.

"I don't think so," he continued, in an interview with Radio Solent. "You never know, but I don't think so.

"There are a couple of factors...it was just felt for both of us it was the right thing to do.

"Sometimes you sense things aren't quite right. You hope you can smooth things over but that's not the case here.

"A few more things might come out in due course but at this stage I don't think there's an ulterior motive for him."