CHAIRMAN Martin Moody reckons David Malone doesn't deserve the flak he's taking for announcing he is to quit Winchester City this summer.

Malone's decision to leave the club for a third time and take on a directorship at Conference South outfit Eastleigh has been greeted with anger by some supporters who are appalled he is abandoning City now they stand on the brink of promotion from the Wessex League.

But Moody has put worried minds at rest by confirming that, even without Malone's substantial financial input, Winchester have the funds to play at the next level next season.

And he has credited the departing director of football with putting the club on the non-League map.

Moody, who has known Malone for 25 years, said: "I've got a lot of admiration for David and he doesn't deserve to be criticised.

"We wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for him.

"I think he's had his arm forced by Eastleigh, but he'd be welcome back here at any time."

Love him or loathe him, Malone has become one of the most talked-about figures on the local non-League circuit since first arriving on the scene as chairman of Bashley.

He has devoted the last five years on and off to Winchester City, punctuating his stay with a brief spell as a director at Salisbury City.

Winchester manager Steve Tate said: "Dave's enthusiasm is unrivalled in non-League and he's good to have around. He has made my job so easy.

"You can have wrong opinions of people sometimes and my opinion of Dave certainly changed when I came to Winchester as a player three years ago.

"So when I got the call asking me to be manager I was more than happy to come.

"Dave will be sorely missed, but no one is bigger than the club and Winchester will carry on to the next level."

Brian Lusted, who has supported the club on and off since the 1960s, was less enamoured with Malone's announcement, however.

City's assistant club shop manager, seethed: "This is the third time he's done this to us and I'm disgusted by it.

"If we were in the middle of the league with no prospect of promotion I could understand it, but why go now?

"We've all been stabbed in the back.

"I'm also disgusted with Eastleigh.

"They've taken our best players like Andy Forbes, Danny Smith and Mark Blake, they've taken half our youth team and the youth team managers Ian Knight and Wayne Mew and now they're taking our director of football.

"Why can't they find their own people instead of taking Winchester's personnel all the time?

Eastleigh - home to Cambridge City in the Conference South tonight - are delighted to have Malone on board.

Director Paul Murray said: "David has contributed a lot to the success at Winchester City and we are sure he will continue in this vein to help Eastleigh to greater achievements.

"He is investing significantly in the new company and will play his part in our future progression and development.

"We wish Winchester City well and are desirous of maintaining our current good relationship with all at that club."

Eastleigh are without defender Chris Collins this evening due to work commitments while Andy Forbes (bruised groin) and Ryan Ashford (cramped hamstring) both face fitness tests.

Striker Stuart Douglas is back in contention after coming safely through 15 minutes of last Saturday's 3-1 win at Dorchester.