ACTING chairman Pete Baker is hopeful that New Milton Town will have a new manager in place "sooner rather than later" after Richie Phippard followed the rest of the coaching staff through the Fawcett's Field exit door.

Phippard, who was assistant to former boss Ian Robinson, yesterday ruled himself out of becoming manager and has instead decided to concentrate on his work commitments.

But Baker, who stepped up the chairman's role after Ian Snook's resignation, revealed that the club is in talks with "three or four" prospective new managers as they prepare for life back in the Sydenhams Premier Division.

Baker told the Echo: "We are in negotiations with three or four different people over the manager's position at the moment.

"We have to be careful that we get the right person for the job, so we will not rush that decision. But we will be looking to appoint the new man sooner rather than later and I'm confident we will get a very good manager."

Although Baker was reluctant to discuss the candidates, names in the frame are believed to be ex-Linnets defender Paul Morris, long-serving goalkeeper Mark Watson and even former manager Derek Binns, who was in charge until 2001.

Baker said: "I'm not in a position to disclose names, but we will have a manager and a team that will be of the highest standard that we can possibly get within the financial constraints."

Although the financial situation at New Milton has effectively forced their decision to return to the Wessex League, Baker is hopeful that they may again return to the Southern League in the future.

He said: "It was a difficult decision to voluntarily drop down from the Southern League, but financially, it was an easy decision to make.

"We've got a hard task in front of us and the decision had to be taken for the good of the club, but I believe that once we can get through this difficult time, there will be a bright future for the club."

Whoever is appointed at Fawcett's Field faces a daunting challenge to build a brand new team from scratch capable of competing in the new 23-team Premier Division.

With champions Gosport Borough winning promotion last term, the top three from last season's Division One - Hayling United, Alresford Town and Romsey Town - have been elevated.

Vice-chairman of the Wessex League, Ray Barnes, said: "Lymington and New Milton, as they were, had been one of our clubs for a long time so we were delighted to welcome them back to us."