WIVENHOE Town chairman Mo Osman insists the club are in no rush to appoint a new manager.

Osman stepped down from his position as manager last month, following the Dragons' 9-0 defeat against Thurlow Nunn League neighbours Stanway Rovers.

The team have been managed by coaching duo Ian Smith and Jason Savage since then, but Osman remains adamant the club are waiting for the right person - rather than just any person - to come in and take over on a permanent basis.

“Ian and Jason have a lot of experience at the club and know what’s expected," he said.

“They will try to get results.

“We’ve had more than ten applicants come forward for the manager’s role, but we won’t be bringing anyone in for the sake of it.”

Since Osman handed the reigns to Smith and Savage, the club have beaten Holland FC on penalties in the League Cup but have lost their last three games 6-0, 6-0 and 5-1.

Osman isn’t looking for someone to come in and start from scratch, either.

“We don’t need a massive overhaul," he said.

"We’re looking for someone to come in and add three or four players who can make a difference.

“We want someone with confidence in themselves as a tactician or coach, who can get things moving again.”

The long-serving chairman also pointed out the challenge that is running a non-league club without a budget for massive expansion.

“At this level, it does come down to finances," he said.

“Most people don’t want to do it for nothing.

“I don’t think there’s a quick fix - we don’t believe throwing money at it (the club) in the short-term would fix things and it’s not something we want to do.

“We’re stable, but we’re just not in a position to offer bags of money to resolve the situation we’re in”.

On whether either, or both, of Smith and Savage are in the running for the manager’s job on more than just an interim basis, Osman said: “Both have a love for the club and they could do it.

“Ian and Jason have both said they’d be happy to work with someone else.”

Osman added he is enjoying his more relaxed role on matchdays now that he’s not the manager as well as the club chairman.

“It’s a different experience, but certainly enjoyable," he said.

“I have and will go to all the games and I’m still coaching the under-15 side, so it’s not as if I’m missing out on my football completely.

“I want the team to win more than anyone does.

“Whoever comes in (as manager), we’ll try and support them as much as possible."

Wivenhoe will be determined to halt their losing streak when they head to Saffron Walden Town for a Thurlow Nunn League fixture tonight (kick-off 7.45pm).

And Osman remained coy on his expectations for that and coming games:

“I think it’s a tough league no matter who you play and it’s often been the lower teams we’ve lost games against," he said.

“We could go out and beat (top-of-the-table) Felixstowe (later this month), then lose 20 games in a row and get relegated.

“We should compete for every point and every match the same.”

Wivenhoe are currently bottom of the table but they are only two points behind Ipswich Wanderers and Fakenham Town.