EASTLEIGH are facing competition from league leaders Lewes for the signature of St Albans City's highly talented winger Matt Hann.
With Darren Wheeler sold to Mangotsfield United and summer signing Ellis Green growing demoralised with his lack of first-team starts, the Spitfires have set their sights on 27-year-old Hann - voted Conference South player-of-the-year by opposition supporters in City's promotion-winning 2005/6 season.
Eastleigh thought they had the deal sewn up earlier this week, but Lewes caught wind of it and have matched their bid, leaving Spitfires' football manager Paul Doswell playing a waiting game.
Green, signed from Welling United, started Eastleigh's first two games of the season playing wide left, but then lost his place to Warren Ryan.
He was recalled to the starting line-up last Saturday when Ryan failed to show having been arrested for an alleged driving offence, but Ellis failed to make an impact in a miserable 2-1 defeat by Sutton and was substituted after an hour.
"Ellis has been travelling from London and he's made it clear he wants to play games. We've told him he's free to get a loan or a permanent move elsewhere," said Doswell.
"He's not going to get into the side ahead of Damian Scannell and we're currently looking for another wide player.
If Ellis were to go and Matt Hann come in, we'd be okay for numbers again".
On the subject of the errant Ryan, Doswell added: "We're fining him two weeks' wages and talking to him about what happened last week".
Full non league weekend preview: See today's Daily Echo.
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