MANAGER Andy Hessenthaler says it’s time for Eastleigh’s unperforming stars to “start earning their money.”

It’s no secret that the Spitfires have spent big in their quest for promotion from the Vanarama National League, backed by chairman Stewart Donald’s riches.

After two seasons of underachievement in the league, things finally began to look up when Hessenthaler kicked off his managerial reign with a nine-match unbeaten run.

But results have rapidly unravelled over the last fortnight with a 2-0 home defeat against Boreham Wood followed by poor performances on the road at Chester and Maidenhead, both of which wound up in 3-1 losses.

“We went on a fantastic run and, all of a sudden, we’ve thrown that all away in the last three games," said Hessenthaler.

“It wasn’t so much Boreham Wood – that could have gone either way, but in the last two games we haven’t deserved anything and we’ve conceded six goals.

“The players aren’t performing at the moment.

“They get looked after very well, they’re paid very well and they’ve got to start earning their money because, at the moment, they’re certainly not.

“I thought Tuesday was a game to bounce back after Saturday’s defeat, but it (the bad run) has continued.

“That’s 180 minutes of poor football from us.

“We’ve got to start performing, certainly better than we have done in the last two games – and it’s got to happen very quickly,” he warned.

That may be easier said than done on Saturday when Eastleigh welcome a re-energised FC Halifax Town to the Silverlake (3pm).

The Shaymen are six points beneath the 14th-placed Spitfires in 18th but, having parted company with Billy Heath at the end of January, have new man Jamie Fullarton ready to take his first game in charge.

The arrival of Fullarton, who had a 70-day stint at Notts County, has already had a positive effect on the squad who beat Hartlepool 2-0 on Tuesday night – their first win of 2018.

“Halifax have just won, so they’ll come here with confidence,” said Hessenthaler.

“We’ve got 11 games to go, the season’s not over by a long shot.

"But whereas we were looking up, we’ll be looking below us again if we’re not careful – and that’s not right with this group of players.

“We know we’re capable of getting results because everybody’s seen that.

“We’ve got to go and win on Saturday, simple as that.”