EASTLEIGH’S under-performing players know exactly what they will be working on in their first week of training under new boss Ronnie Moore.

For all their pedigree signings this summer, the Spitfires surrendered possession way too easily for the incoming boss’s liking in yesterday’s 0-0 Vanarama National League stalemate at Wrexham.

And Moore, who had a watching brief at the Racecourse Ground, leaving caretaker Ben Strevens in charge, was at pains to stress that he is in a hurry to put that right.

Describing the game as “scrappy”, the vastly experienced former Hartlepool, Tranmere and Rotherham manager stated several times in his post-match interview that ball retention would be his key focus over the coming days.

“We need to retain the ball a lot more than we did today, so there will be a lot of work on that next week,” said the 63-year-old Liverpudlian, who comes with a reputation as a born crowd-pleaser.

“A draw at Wrexham is a good result because it’s a difficult place to come, but we never really looked like we were going to win the game.

“We’ll be working a lot more on possession because I just thought we gave the ball away far too easily today when we were not even under pressure.

“The biggest thing for me was the retention of the ball. We’re not keeping it enough to get the wingers in.

“If you’re playing with wingers, you’ve got to get the ball to their feet and they’ve got to get crosses into the box.

“We can’t play kick and rush football, we need to keep the ball down and the sooner we can get work done on that, the better.

“We’ve got footballers in the side and we just need to relax a bit more.”

But for a smart double save by goalkeeper Ross Flitney – recalled by Strevens in place of Arsenal loanee Ryan Huddart – and a near miss by Wrexham sub Callum Powell, Eastleigh would have trailed at the break in north Wales.

The second half brought a slight improvement with the Dragons’ ex-Bournemouth keeper Shwan Jalal pushing away Jai Reason’s 73rd-minute strike.

But, a couple of headed opportunities aside, there was nothing to over-excite the new boss, who admitted there were occasions when it appeared the Eastleigh job would be harder than he initially thought.

Furthermore he suggested that if the stuttering Spitfires carried on playing in that manner, they would finish "at the wrong end of the table."

Moore is plotting to add a couple more signings to the 13 already brought in this summer and also has plans to appoint an assistant manager.

It appears Strevens – right-hand man to departed boss Chris Todd - will be staying at the Silverlake, but the 36-year-old ex-Wycombe Wanderers midfielder is reverting back to playing duties.

“Ben wants to be a coach eventually and I don’t mind him doing a bit of coaching if he wants to,” said Moore. “But he wants to concentrate on playing now.”

Eastleigh have no midweek game, giving Moore an opportunity to get to know his players on the training ground ahead of Saturday's home game against newly-promoted Solihull Moors.

He has previously spent all his managerial career up north, but said: "I've got an apartment down here now, so it's full on, 100 per cent."

Eastleigh: Ross Flitney, Connor Essam, Michael Green, Andy Drury, Adam Dugdale, Ryan Cresswell, Jake Howells, Jason Taylor, Jai Reason (Mikael Mandron, 78), Ryan Bird (James Constable, 59), Adam Dawson (Yemi Odubade, 59). Subs: (not used) Ryan Huddart, Ayo Obileye.

Referee: Tom Nield

Attendance; 4,034