WINCHESTER City have today appoint Petersfield Town’s Ian Saunders as successor to departed boss Paul Masters.

With time of the essence ahead of the start of the Southern One South & West season, City have not hung around getting the new man on board.

Within hours of Masters quitting yesterday morning, director of football Dave Malone had two prime targets in mind.

He met Saunders yesterday evening and asked him to think about it overnight and the Salisbury-based Army man is understood to have tendered his resignation at Love Lane earlier today.

He boasts impressive credentials having miraculously led Petersfield to the Sydenhams Premier Division title two seasons ago in their first year up from Wessex One.

Last season they finished a steady 13th in the Southern One Central on a modest budget.

“We’ve crossed swords with Ian a number of times in the Wessex League and in the Trophy and Red Insure Cup last year and he’s always managed to put a decent side together,” said Malone.

“I did it the right way and spoke to the Petersfield chairman first.

“I’ve got sympathy for them because I wouldn’t like my manager nicked so close to the start of the season, but we had to put pressure on Ian to make a quick decision because of the situation we’re in.

“I had a long chat with him last night and he is Mr Enthusiastic personified.

“I’m still disappointed to lose Paul Masters because we got on well, but for him to push us on he felt he needed a higher budget and it’s money we haven’t got.

“I’ve told Ian that the budget is the budget and it’s not for breaking. It’s still a lot more than he’s had at Petersfield, although not as much as we’d like in a perfect world.”

The Citizens lost last night’s friendly 2-0 at home to Sholing – summer signing Zac Mouland and Jack Smith scoring for the Boatmen.

It was a timely confidence-booster for Sholing, who kick off their Sydenhams Premier campaign at Andover Town on Tuesday (August 1) before hosting Poppies in the FA Cup extra preliminary round next Friday at their newly-named Universal Stadium (August 5, 7.45pm).

Winchester begin the new Southern One South & West campaign at Slimbridge on August 6. This Saturday they are due continue their pre-season programme at Godalming.