Hawks turned down approaches for boss Paul Doswell from  EFL and National League clubs in past year

Chief executive Stuart Munro revealed he rebuffed the advances from a team in the EFL who were interested in discussions with Doswell over a position.

Hawks today tied their boss down to a new three-year contract which will keep him at the club at least until the end of the 2023/24 season.

But CEO Munro, who took on the role last summer, admitted he's had to stave off EFL interest in the former Sutton and Eastleigh boss, who has operated in non-league throughout his managerial career.

And the Hawks chief executive believes they have the 'best manager and assistant' pairing outside of the Football League now confirmed to be leading them for an additional three years.

‘It was a no-brainer, really (giving Doswell a new deal),' said Munro.

'Myself and Derek (Pope, Hawks chairman) spoke last weekend and we believe we’ve got the best manager and assistant manager (Ian Baird) in the National League South and the division above.

‘Paul’s record in the past 20 years speaks for itself. He brought a great deal of success to Sutton over many, many years and we still believe he’ll bring a lot of success to this football club for many years to come.

‘Since my time at the club I’ve been approached and turned down offers from a Football League club and a National League club for Paul and Ian’s services.

‘We believe over the next five years or so that this club will be successful and we want that to be through Paul’s management and his support from Ian Baird as well.'

Doswell – who has won four promotions in his managerial career, two each with Eastleigh and Sutton United - is now preparing to head into his third season as Hawks boss.

Both his previous two campaigns have ended prematurely because of the pandemic.

Hawks fell short of promotion in the 2019/20 play-offs, suffering a home semi-final defeat to Dartford, while this season was declared null and void last month.

But Munro is in no doubt Doswell will deliver National League South promotion in the next 'two or three years'.

He said: 'We’re under no doubt that we’ve got to get promotion in the next two or three years - Paul knows that, Paul’s the biggest one pushing for it.

'What you get with Paul Doswell is you don’t just get a manager who’s had the success he’s had, you get the enthusiasm, the passion, he keeps us all on our toes.

‘He’s been instrumental in what’s been going on in this club for two years.

'He lives and breathes Havant and Waterlooville Football Club and we’ll get this right and get promotion with Paul’s experience and knowledge of the game.'