AFC TOTTON are unlikely to have a new manager in place for Saturday’s tricky Southern One South & West assignment at third-placed Tiverton Town.

Chairman Andy Straker has been unwell and it is understood the interview process has been delayed as the Stags seek a replacement for Steve Hollick, who left by mutual consent two weeks ago.

Applications are well into double figures and there has been some speculation linking the Stags with their former striker Michael Charles following his departure as manager of Sydenhams One outfit Alton.

The name of ex-Winchester City boss Paul Masters, who coached the Stags during their FA Vase final season of 2006/07, is also doing the rounds on the non-League grapevine, as is that of Fleet Town boss Craig Davis, a former Totton midfielder.

Fleet tweeted this week that Davis had “turned down another job offer at Step 4” and that “after much deliberation” he and his staff had decided to stay at the Southern One Central club.

It added: “He (Davis) felt that, despite bigger budgets on offer, he has built a great group on a shoestring and, hopefully, with good news off the field imminent, he can keep pushing the club forward.”

Davis’s job offer is highly unlikely to have come from Totton, however, with interviews still pending at the Testwood Stadium. Fleet’s divisional rivals Petersfield Town, the former club of Winchester City boss Ian Saunders, are also in the hunt for a new boss.

Totton's caretaker manager Andy Darnton expects to lead the 20th-placed Stags to Tiverton as they look to bounce back from Tuesday’s 2-1 FA Trophy replay defeat against Wimborne.

“It was a very open game which could have finished 4-4. Their goalkeeper’s pulled off a worldy save late on from Dave Allen’s header that would have made it 2-2," reflected Darnton. "It was disappointing, but we're gradually improving."

Ashley Jarvis is another week away from fitness, but Nathaniel Sherborne looks to have got over a knee problem and fellow frontman Dylan Knight came off the bench in midweek after a lengthy spell out with a dislocated shoulder.

Defender Ian Oliver missed Tuesday with a bug but will hopefully be available for selection.