Chairman Martin Moody has sent out a message of hope to Winchester City fans in the wake of money man David Malone's announcement that he moving to Eastleigh this summer.

After watching the team brush Gosport Borough aside 4-1 and stride to within a point of the Sydenhams Wessex League title, Moody has confirmed that it's all systems go for promotion.

Even without Malone's sizeable input as director of football, Winchester are confident they have the finances in place for Ryman/Southern League football and have asked manager Steve Tate and head coach Keith Williams to lead them up to the next level.

Moody, who owns a London-based swimming pool company, estimates it will cost £20,000 more to play higher next season - mostly due to increased mileage.

"The travelling's the biggest additional expense, but we hope to get that sponsored periodically," he said. "The playing budget won't be much different because our players are already getting Ryman wages, which was something we chose to do."

After some indifferent performances of late, Winchester were back to their irresistible best on Saturday as two goals apiece from Ian Mancey and Liam Green sent Gosport crashing to their third straight defeat.

City have not always been the prettiest to watch this season compared to the style and panache of the 2004 FA Vase-winning side, but the fact remains that they have not tasted league defeat since Tate took over in early October.

In fact the ex-Newport IoW boss could justifiably declare himself 'The Special One' after inspiring his side to 22 wins and three draws from his 25 league matches in charge.

Gosport briefly threatened to blot Tate's copybook when Kevin Gill fired them ahead with a suspiciously offside 18th-minute goal.

To say it came against the run of play would be an understatement, but the champions-elect quickly atoned with Mancey pouncing twice inside the six-yard box to make it 2-1 at the break.

Having ruled out any possibility of promotion this season, Gosport left two of their more established names - Ian Rew and Neil Scammell - on the bench.

Both were drafted in for the second half but, ironically, it was a slip by experienced defender Rew that gifted Green the chance to make it 3-1 on 67 minutes.

Six minutes later Green's trusty left foot came good again from the penalty spot, although Borough 'culprit' Adam Camfield was adamant that Christer Warren had barely been touched before going to ground.

"I've been waiting for a performance like this. We were magnificent," said Tate. "We'd been playing in patches for ten or 15 minutes and then going quiet, but the quality's always been there in training. It was only a matter of time before we gave someone a pasting and now I hope we can keep it going for the last three games.

"To beat Gosport 4-1 you've got to play exceptionally well - and we did. We outplayed them in every department.

"The quality of the crosses from Liam Green and Shaun Dyke was enough to scare the living daylights out of anyone, particularly when you've got big Mance standing on the keeper."

Although Tate has yet to confirm he will be staying on as manager next season, the signs are he will give it a go. "It's not crossed and signed yet from either side," he said. "But the club have got confidence in me and Keith to continue and when the team produce a performance like that it makes you want to be involved in football."

After less than four months in the Gosport hotseat, Alex Pike is still assessing his squad and, of his six remaining contract players, only Neil Scammell is assured of staying next season.

"I've just said to the lads that Winchester are going to be champions - and worthy champions - because of that display today and, in 12 months' time, I want to be in the same position," he said.

"I don't just want to match Winchester City, I want to better them."

Borough chairman John Stimpson said he would be glad to see the back of Winchester - in the nicest possible way.

"They're always psyched up when they play us and we never get anything here," he said.

"My hope now is that Winchester go up and sustain it and that we will follow them next year."

Winchester can make sure of their second title in three years away to VT FC next Saturday. They travel to the old enemy Andover on Easter Monday (11am) and round off the campaign at home to Bemerton Heath Harlequins on April 29.