EASTLEIGH appointed Martin Allen as their new manager within 24 hours of Ronnie Moore’s shock exit.

The 51 year-old will be officially unveiled as Moore’s replacement at a Silverlake Stadium press conference at 12.30pm tomorrow.

Allen, nicknamed ‘Mad Dog’, was midway through his fourth spell as manager of League Two Barnet, from where defender Bondz N’Gala recently arrived as Eastleigh’s £60,000 record signing.

He has also managed Gillingham, Notts County and Brentford.

Barnet chairman Tony Kleanthous told barnetfc.com: “Martin has asked to be released from his contract so he can join Eastleigh.

“The approach came out of the blue yesterday (Wednesday) but it was quite clear that Martin had decided that he wanted to take the opportunity they were offering to him.

“He leaves with our best wishes having done a great job helping to rebuild the football club after our relegation into the National League.

“Our promotion two years ago was one of my highlights as chairman and I was always aware Martin would be in demand as a result.”

Allen’s first game in charge of Eastleigh will be the FA Cup second-round tie against FC Halifax at the Silverlake Stadium on Sunday.

Kevin Watson, Moore’s former assistant, took charge of training yesterday but has also left following Allen's appointment.

Eastleigh chairman Stewart Donald will have been relieved to make the appointment within 24 hours of Moore’s sudden departure, shortly before flying overseas on business.

Before Allen’s appointment was confirmed by Barnet, he said: “We have a lot we want to achieve and have got to make sure we get the right man.

"It was common knowledge we wanted more experience and that’s probably still the case.”

Donald admitted he “was not 100 per cent surprised” by Moore’s exit.

“Sometimes you sense things aren’t quite right,” he said. “You hope you can smooth things over but that’s not the case here.

Donald does not believe another club’s interest is the reason Moore has left Eastleigh so suddenly, despite rumours linking him with a return to managerless Rotherham.

“I don’t think so,” he continued. “There are a couple of factors...it was just felt for both of us it was the right thing to do.

“It’s been very sudden and is just one of those things. I’m sure Ronnie will come strong when he’s organised the things he has to organise.

"A few more things might come out in due course but at this stage I don’t think there’s an ulterior motive for him.”

Allen was a midfielder for Queens Park Rangers, West Ham and Pompey before beginning his coaching career as Alan Pardew’s assistant at Reading in the early noughties.

He left for his first management job at Barnet in 2003 before replacing Wally Downes as Brentford manager a year later.

Allen led Brentford to the FA Cup fifth round in successive seasons, losing a replay against Saints in 2005 after a 2-2 draw at St Mary’s.

After taking MK Dons into the League Two play offs, a fall-out with former Pompey chairman Milan Mandaric meant he only lasted four games at Leicester.

He followed in his dad Dennis’s footsteps by managing Cheltenham, albeit for just a season, and was sacked by Notts County in between two more spells at Barnet.

He won his first promotion as a manger when he led Gillingham to the 2012-13 League Two title, only to be sacked following a poor start in League One.

In his first season back at Barnet, he led the club back into the Football League by winning the 2014-15 National League title.