CHAIRMAN Stewart Donald insisted Eastleigh’s ambition was “greater than ever” as the Spitfires reluctantly hosted Macclesfield’s promotion party.

The Silkmen’s 2-0 Silverlake victory secured them the Vanarama National League title yesterday, gloriously ending their six-year exile in non-League football.

Budget-wise Eastleigh should have been up there challenging but, for the second season running, they are doomed to bottom-half mediocrity.

Manager Andy Hessenthaler, who stepped up from the assistant’s role in mid-December, will carry on next season and the former Gillingham boss is under no illusions as to what is expected of him and his squad.

Speaking on BBC Radio Solent, Donald said: “I’m failing and the football club is failing in its results.

"I said we’d be in (the Football League) in five years and we haven’t made it. We should have made it with the money we’ve spent, but we haven’t and it’s not good enough.”

Eastleigh played well enough against Macc but were undone by an early Ty Marsh strike and one from Mitch Hancox on the hour.

“Congratulations to Macclesfield, their manager John Askey and his staff - but, for us, it’s a tough day,” said Hessenthaler. “We’ve lost the last four games, which is disappointing.

“I’ve been told by the chairman I’m going to be here next year – and there’s going to be some massive changes,” he vowed.

“We can’t keep going on as we have done for the last two years because we’ll keep getting the same results.”