MARTIN Allen has achieved a managerial first for Eastleigh this season.

After months comings and goings at the Silverlake Stadium, Allen – the Spitfires’ third boss of a rollercoaster campaign – has finally called off the search for new signings.

Asked whether this week’s twin departure of striker Ryan Bird to Newport County and young Tony Lee to Gosport Borough would clear the way for yet another new arrival, Allen said: “No. I don’t think any more players will be arriving this season.

“We’ve got Reda Johnson and Gavin Hoyte coming back soon from injury and I’m going to take a look at some of the younger players like Jack Smith and Jack Masterton and the young lad Tom Bearwish who’s been scoring a lot of goals.

“With so many players here, it’s been impossible to look at the younger ones, but these lads will be coming in for training and spending most of their time with us."

Including loanees, Eastleigh have signed no fewer than 26 players since mid-May.

Nine of those have arrived under Allen’s watch and, having finally shaped the squad as he wants it, the former Barnet boss hopes some new-found stability will help extend a promising four-match unbeaten league run.

For all their upheavals, 12th-placed Eastleigh are within eight points of the National League play-offs heading into Saturday's home game against lowly Woking (3pm).

Reflecting on his squad, Allen said: “Of course there’s room for improvement, but we need to settle it down now. A few wins would put us in a really good position.

“It was an unsettling period when I got here – half the team could play in the FA Cup, the other half couldn’t. Then we’ve had offers coming in for our players and some have moved on.

“For all of us, we need to have a bit of stability now.”

With 18 league games remaining, Eastleigh have little margin for error if they are to stay in touch with the leading pack.

Some would label Saturday’s visit of Garry Hill’s Cards a ‘must win’, but Allen said: “I don’t lie awake at night thinking ‘we’ve got to win’ but, as always, we’ll do the very best we can.

“I get in early to work, prepare the players and pick the team to the best of my ability and whatever will be, will be.”

Although Allen was disappointed not to sneak a win at Sutton United last weekend, a 1-1 draw wasn’t a bad result on the Us’ 3G surface.

“It’s a difficult pitch to play on and they’re a very well organised team,” he said. “We had good chances to go 2-0 up, but it certainly wasn’t a game for the purists. It was a horrible to watch and horrible to play in.

“But it’s another game unbeaten, so on we go…”

After a barren run of seven league and cup matches without a win, Woking - a lowly 22nd - have won their last two. Having ousted Leatherhead from the Surrey Senior Cup, they triumphed 2-1 at Torquay United in the league.

Eastleigh drew 3-3 at The Kingfield Stadium under Ronnie Moore’s charge at the start of October, having at one stage led 3-1.

Cards boss Hill said: “It will be a tough game on Saturday, as it always is at Eastleigh. They will be a big, strong and physical side with a lot of quality too.”

The Spitfires are long overdue a home league success. The last time they banked three Silverlake points was a 3-0 victory over Torquay on October 25.