Brabin appointed John Doolan as assistant five days before leaving

Southport chief executive Hayden Preece has revealed the club hope to make an announcement on their new manager sooner, rather than later.

The Blue Square North side were forced into searching for their third manager in three months after boss Gary Brabin left for Cambridge United.

"What we need right now is stability," Preece told BBC Radio Lancashire.

"Gary was put in charge to bring in new players, but actually only signed one so we haven't got much time left."

Brabin replaced former Nottingham Forest and Manchester United player Peter Davenport in April.

But the 37-year-old was only in charge for seven games and missed out out on promotion to the Blue Square Premier after losing to Stalybridge in the play-off semi-finals.

You've only got to look at any level of football because stability leads to success Southport chief executive Hayden Preece

And Preece admitted the process of finding another new manager has become a familiar task.

"I'm sorry to say but it's been a bit of a revolving door.

"It's not something we've wanted because we've been crying for stability. You've only got to look at any level of football because stability leads to success.

"Since Liam Watson we've had Paul Cook, Peter Davenport and then Gary Brabin. So it's not been what we've wanted," added the chief executive.

Realising the incentives of promotion, Preece believes Southport are more than capable of achieving the same sort of success as a number of local rivals.

"We've got to re-establish ourselves in Blue Square Premier by winning Blue Square North.

"But we have to look at Accrington and Morecambe and say the model is there. Southport is as big, if not bigger, than those two and we have to look at League Two."