Returning boss Richard Hill has his work cut out to dig Eastleigh out of "a messy hole"

Those were the words of director of football/caretaker boss Richard Hill reflecting on the latest depressing chapter in Eastleigh’s shambolic season - Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at lowly York City.

York, who began the afternoon rock-bottom of the National League, couldn't believe their luck as they surged 2-0 up inside the opening 13 minutes with near identical goals. Both stemmed from long throws flicked on by Vadiane Oliver for veteran 35-year-old Jon Parkin to bury.

Eastleigh were gifted a 16th-minute Ross Stearn reply thanks to a comical blunder by goalkeeper Kyle Letheren but, having gone close to equalising when Tyler Garratt struck the post, they were undone again by Oliver ten minutes from time.

With eight points separating the Spitfires from the drop zone and ten games still to play, there is still time for Hill to work his magic and pull Eastleigh out of free fall.

But with the club yet to win in 2017, the R-word (relegation) is now a genuine fear, and Hill’s chief concern is trying to keep confidence high as he sifts through the wreckage of Martin Allen's ill-fated 84-day reign.

“I haven’t created this situation, I’ve inherited this situation,” he said.

“We’ve got some players who are very low on confidence. We don’t particularly look like a team, we’re very disjointed.

“The only way to put it right is to roll our sleeves up, get on the training ground and see where it takes us. We need to get some points from somewhere sooner rather than later.”

Asked if he was hatching any plans to draft in reinforcements, Hill said: “Like the last time I was here, we’re always looking to improve, but it’s difficult. I’ve enquired after a couple of players who are fourth choice at their clubs, but they still won’t let them out.

“During my time scouting for Aston Villa, I saw stacks of under-23 games. I watched them as if I was still Eastleigh manager, wondering if they would be able to handle the style of football in the Conference, and the answer in most cases was ‘no’.”

Hill would like to have brought back defender Connor Essam from loan at Dover, but Eastleigh have no right of recall having sent him out for the rest of the season.

Reflecting on the York defeat, Hill said: “You can’t give two goals away in the first 15 minutes and expect to win a game of football.

“The first half-hour of the second half, I thought we were decent and moved the ball around well. How young Tyler’s shot stayed out I don’t know. If that goes in, we’re in the ascendancy and who knows what might have happened.

"I’m not saying we were worthy of three points, not by any stretch of the imagination, but perhaps we deserved one.”

Eastleigh have no midweek action, giving Hill some thinking time ahead Saturday’s home game against Barrow.

“Once again it’s my job to have a few sleepless nights and see how we are going to put this right,” he said.