CHRIS Todd has indicated that Eastleigh are ready to up their playing budget in a bid to deliver League football to the Silverlake Stadium sooner rather than later.

Although the Spitfires have been widely tagged as the National League’s ‘big spenders’, manager Todd says that is far from the truth.

But he tantalisingly added: “Who knows, maybe next year we might be.”

Eastleigh are a club in a hurry to progress to the Football League but, for the second year running, they have fallen short.

Having finished second-best to Grimsby in the semi-finals last season, they missed the play-off cut completely this time, finishing five points shy of fifth spot.

Young Welshman Todd knows that is simply not good enough for a club of their ambition and, having sat down to discuss possible targets with chairman Stewart Donald, he insisted “we mean business”.

Addressing Eastleigh's financial standing, Todd said: “This club has been tagged with being a money-spending, gravy train – but it ain’t that.

“If you look at the stats and if the figures actually come out, we’re in the top six – I ain’t going to lie – but we’re nowhere near the top.

“People tag us with that, and it’s quite funny actually, but who knows, maybe next year we might be…

“It’s going to be a good challenge over the summer and there’s a lot of work to be done.

“This club needs change and that will happen.”

Rampaging right-back Joe Partington was the big winner at Eastleigh’s end-of-season awards evening.

The 26-year-old former AFC Bournemouth defender scooped four big prizes, picking up the players’ player, supporters’ player and TSSC (The Spitfires Supporters’ Club) trophies – plus the goal-of-the-season award for his FA Cup stunner at Bolton Wanderers.

The scholars’ trophies went to Ollie Griggs (first year) and Joe Hayward (second year), while John Lee was honoured with the Ronnie Parker Trophy for outstanding service to the club.