AFC TOTTON chairman Andy Straker is confident of naming a new manager any time now.

After missing several games through illness, Straker made a welcome return to the Testwood Stadium yesterday just in time to witness arguably the Stags’ most important result of the season - a 2-1 Southern One South & West basement win over fellow strugglers Bridgwater Town.

Afterwards he revealed that he and vice-chairman Roy Edwards were edging ever closer to naming a permanent replacement for Steve Hollick, who left by mutual consent more than a month ago.

The name of Gosport Borough boss Alex Pike has frequently been sounded on the non-League jungle drums and Pike openly admits to having spoken to the Stags.

However, events at Gosport took another twist yesterday when it was revealed that former Borough player and coach Danny Thompson is heading up a business consortium looking to take over the National League South club – a development which could give Pike extra incentive to stay at the Aerial Direct Stadium.

Straker would not be drawn on Pike’s link to Totton, but said: “We know the person we want and that person has told us he wants to be here. We’re just finalising the deal.

“The hold-up is not because he is with another club, it’s because there are a couple of things we need to agree with him.

“We need someone sooner rather than later. We can’t keep letting this drag on.

“We got a result today, which has given us a bit of a bounce, and we need to keep that going.

“Apart from (leaders) Hereford, most teams are beatable and, if we can get the new man in, we might be surprised how far we can get up this league.

“Hopefully there will be an announcement very soon ….then watch us go!”

Yesterday's game was littered with missed chances and iffy defending from both sides, but Totton ultimately deserved to come out on top – albeit that it took a late, late winner from long-serving Stag Mike Gosney to settle matters.

Having seen his 47th-minute strike wiped out by a Callum Laird with just eight minutes of normal time remaining, Gosney struck again in the third minute of added time.

He was teed up by a cross from relieved winger Nick Watts who would have been kicking himself had it ended 1-1 having just missed two glorious chances to put Bridgwater to the sword.

“It was a bit of a rollercoaster,” admitted caretaker boss Andy Darnton, “but we deserved the win.

“When Bridgwater scored I thought ‘oh no’, but the boys rallied and I thought we were fitter than them.

“I told the lads to go out with confidence, be brave and play for the badge and, from a creative point of view, we had lots of chances today.

“Gos (Gosney) is a bit of a catalyst in that midfield role. He makes things happen and showed lots of energy second half.”

Darnton is keen to see the managerial situation resolved sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, he would like the club to “firm up” his own future at the Testwood Stadium.

“They’ve told me verbally that they want me to stay in some capacity and I would like to stay at Totton. It’s a good, well-structured club,” he said.

“But I’m realistic too and what I don’t want to do is babysit for someone else to come in.

"If Totton want me to stay, they need to firm that up with me."

Darnton, who stepped up from the role of assistant manager when Hollick left, added: “It’s been 40 days since Steve went and I’ve tried to keep the players professional and focused.

"It’s been an unsettling time for the lads but, in fairness to them, they’ve applied themselves very professionally and shown a good attitude.

"The boys are buzzing after beating Bridgwater."

AFC Totton: Steve Mowthorpe, Liam Hibberd, Ian Oliver, Pat Wilson, Jack Vallis, Neil Williams, Nick Watts, Charlie Gunson, Dan Munday, Dave Allen (Ashley Jarvis, 85), Mike Gosney. Subs (not used): Declan McCarthy, Calum Hellyar, Mitchell Hunt, Dylan Knight.

Referee: Lee Rutter Attendance: 226