It's Starting To Stack Up For Spitfires As Tranmere Test Nears

The Hampshire club still have Dover Athletic, Aldershot Town, Wrexham and Macclesfield Town left to play.But first they travel to Tranmere Rovers this Saturday - a fixture being broadcast live on BT Sport.

Stack will be aiming for his third clean sheet in a row but he also has experience on the other side of the camera too.

Currently studying a professional sports writing and broadcasting degree at Staffordshire University, the 36-year-old knows all about the impact of media coverage.

“We’ve got a few young lads in the squad and any opportunity to play on TV at this stage of the season is brilliant,” he told us.

“There are players here who will be out of contract at the end of the season so they’re fighting to earn new deals. Being on the box is a massive incentive. To go to a club such as Tranmere, with the history they have, only adds to it - there’s a lot at stake.

“We’ll have a big say in what happens up at the top. I think it will go down to the last game and we’re looking forward to the games against those in the top seven.

“We beat Tranmere at home but I still think they’re one of the best sides we’ve faced this season. They’ve got goals in them and they’ve got some really good players.”

Stack isn’t planning to move into the media full-time just yet, though. He still has 12 months left on his Eastleigh deal and wants to help right some wrongs.

“I’m just trying to stay busy,” Stack added. “Whether it’s something I go into in the future, I’m not sure. I wanted to use my brain and commit to doing something outside of football.

“I’m still loving playing. I’ve had a few niggles this season but hopefully I’ll still get to 30 games which is good. I’ve got a year left on my contract at Eastleigh and I’ve got to make the most of it now. My aspirations were to get promoted with the club. There have been changes on and off the pitch and it’s been difficult to find that cohesion.

“Players have to take responsibility because we’ve underperformed in the last two seasons. Results haven’t been good enough but we were on a nine-game unbeaten run until recently and have had back-to-back clean sheets.”

Eastleigh look just about safe - although Stack reckons a couple of wins are still needed - and will be glad to see the back of this season. Tipped by many to be fighting for promotion, it just hasn’t clicked for the Spitfires despite having plenty of talent in their ranks.

A Conference winner with Barnet in 2014-15, Stack knows what it takes and has been impressed with boss Andy Hessenthaler. The former Gillingham chief replaced Richard Hill in the Eastleigh hot-seat in December and Stack says they have taken big strides forward already.

“Hess has done really well since he’s been in charge,” Stack added. “We are definitely progressing and it’s added a bit of stability. This is an unforgiving League but I’m sure we’ll all want to come back in next pre-season and want to get promoted.

“We have underachieved, there’s no hiding from that. We want to go on a good run between now and the end of the season, come back with a fresh outlook next season and really challenge.”

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