THE decision to part company with goalkeeper Ryan Clarke has gone down like a lead balloon with some Eastleigh fans.

But director of football/caretaker boss Richard Hill makes no apologies for acting in the best interests of the club he loves.

Clarke, along with striker Darius Henderson, was released by mutual consent earlier this week.

The 34-year-old had signed a contract until June next year on arrival from AFC Wimbledon in September but was unhappy with Hill’s decision to reinstate ex-Barnet man Graham Stack following the 3-1 defeat at York.

Stack’s return coincided with ten points banked from four games which all-but secured the club’s National League future.

By his own admission, Stack was poor in the 4-0 defeat at Dagenham that followed, but he atoned with a man-of-the-match display against Lincoln City last week.

Commenting on the thorny issue of Clarke's departure, Hill said: “Ryan was disappointed I left him out and I fully understand that. I don’t expect players to be happy when they’re left out of the team.

“It would be unprofessional of me to make all the details public but, from my point of view, I want players who have been left out to show me they want to get back into the team – and that starts on the training ground.

“I’m just the custodian of Eastleigh, trying to do what is best for the club, and I only want players who are going to work their balls off to get into the side.

“If that makes me unpopular so be it. I love this club and I will continue to do the best I can for Eastleigh FC in the short-term, middle-term and long-term.

"I only want players who want to play for Eastleigh, players who, if they’re not in the team, are prepared to train well and fight for the position.

“Ryan’s a good goalkeeper and so is Stacky.

“But if a player is not prepared to fight for his place and doesn’t want to be at the club as a result, there can only be one outcome.

“Ryan didn’t say outright that he didn’t want to be at Eastleigh, but he intimated that if he wasn’t going to be in the side his future would lie elsewhere.”

Doncaster-based Henderson, signed by Hill’s predecessor Martin Allen from Mansfield Town in early January, played just three times before being sidelined by neck trouble.

The 35-year-old’s deal had been due to run until June this year, but Hill said: "I sat and had a conversation with him and we felt a parting of the ways would be best. It was very amicable.

“Darius had aggravated an injury which would have made his appearances limited."

Eastleigh tomorrow (Friday, 3pm) travel to North Ferriby United knowing anything less than a win for The Villagers will send them down.

Just a year after gaining promotion via the National League North play-offs, North Ferriby’s membership of non-League’s top flight is hanging by a thread.

With four games to go, they sit second-to-bottom on 36 points, nine adrift of safety, and their goal difference of minus-44 is the worst in the league.

“This is their last chance to fight another day and they’re going to have a right go,” said Hill. “It’s going to be tough.”

Pompey loan midfielder Ben Close is ruled out by a dead leg and veteran defender Paul Reid is struggling with general wear and tear.

"Tomorrow might come a bit too soon for Reidy," said Hill. "Don't forget, this is the third time I've talked him out of retirement!"