WINCHESTER City director of football David Malone hopes Craig Davis is the club’s manager beyond the end of this season.

Davis, who played under Malone at Bashley as a teenager in 2001, will take charge of his first game as Winchester boss at home to Barnstaple Town tomorrow.

He has initially replaced Ian Saunders until the end of the season, when he was due to move to City as head coach.

The former Cardiff City trainee resigned as manager of cash-strapped Fleet Town to take caretaker charge of City within 12 hours of Saunders’ sacking.

Malone hopes it is for the long-term.

He said: “We’ll review it at the end of the season but I personally hope he stays on long term. I know him very well, since he arrived at Bashley from Cardiff as a 17 year-old.

“I think he’s a good fit but it works both ways, he’s got to feel happy with us. But he’s already got stuck into things and spoke to most of the players within a day of taking over.

“He’s keen as mustard and can’t ask for any more than that.”

Davis, who lives in Chandlers Ford, moved to Salisbury City from Bashley and also played for AFC Totton before arriving at Southern Central outfit Fleet.

“He started there as a player coach about six years ago and has done a first-rate job as their manager, keeping them in the Southern League on an absolutely minimal budget,” continued Malone.

“We’re a different entity with different expectations but the players I’ve spoken to who’ve played for him all think very highly of him.

“If a manager has that respect he can demand more and get more from his players.”

More Winchester City news in this weekend's Sports Pink