Saints legend Jason Dodd is taking a back seat as an Eastleigh player to concentrate on his new role of head coach at the Silverlake Stadium.

After playing the first three games of the season, the 36-year-old former Southampton skipper has been struggling with ankle problems and has not kicked a ball since undergoing a clean-up operation.

Along with fellow Dell favourite Francis Benali, Dodd was one of two huge summer signings unveiled by the ambitious Conference South side as they set their stall out for promotion to the National division.

But things have gone badly awry this season with Saturday's dismal 1-0 defeat at lowly Farnborough Town leaving the Spitfires fifth to bottom of the table - a decline that has forced manager Paul Doswell into a major rethink.

"Much as we're disappointed that Jason has to stop playing, we're also chuffed that he's staying on as head coach," said Doswell.

"I have no qualms about signing him in the summer and he's tried his absolute best to play, but by pushing himself he's made his ankle even sorer.

"We've made this decision so that he gets up and walks properly in the morning when he's 40. He's had particles of bone coming off which must be pretty painful."

Dodd steps into to the head coach's role vacated by fellow ex-Saint Mark Blake earlier in the season and Doswell predicted: "He's going to be a fantastic coach - eventually at a higher level than we're at.

"He's already got his UEFA badges and he now needs to do a four-week residential course at Lilleshall to take him up in the coaching world."

Full weekend non league round-up in today's Daily Echo