Terry White, the new St Leonards player-manager has yet to sign a contract at The Firs. But White and chairman John Cornelius may think twice before putting pen to paper.

Especially after Saints' display in this Dr Martens eastern division fixture.

White believes he has had the worst experience of his 20-year football career since since taking charge last Tuesday after quitting as coach to neighbours and rivals Hastings.

The hosts crashed to their second successive 5-1 defeat following the previous week's FA Trophy drubbing at Carshalton Athletic after which boss Micky Taylor was sacked and players Ryan Royston and Dominic Barclay defected to Croydon.

White needs to be a quick learner in his first job as manager to arrest his new side's alarming decline in form.

The 34-year-old said: "It has been comfortably the worst five days since I started playing football.

"I have a lot of thinking to do and if anyone says it can only get better then I am going to go crazy. There will be a lot of changes but it is going to take a long time."

White's brief following the surprise dismissal of Taylor is to field more local players.

"At the moment several of the players commute from London to play, running up costs, and the distance means players are often unable to attend social functions at the club and train during the week.

"I can't come in on five days notice and turn them into world beaters.

"I didn't think we deserved to lose 5-1 but we have to defend better. I've got to get them on the training pitch.

"At the moment they aren't training but they will be training every Tuesday and Thursday now without fail.

"I came down on Tuesday night when I had agreed to take over and there were three players there, on Thursday there were nine and that was including me.

"I've spent three years trying to earn myself a reputation as a reasonable coach at this level and I'm not going to throw it away if players don't want to perform for me.

"I'd rather lose 5-1 with a bunch of kids. If players don't want to play for me they can go."

Saints started well enough against Spalding United but they lost they way midway through the first half.

Robbie Williams opened the scoring for the visitors on 20 minutes as he turned in a Lee Stevenson free-kick.

Three minutes later, Steven Waiton lofted a delightful chip over Andy Iga from the edge of the box.

Saints rallied briefly and Danny Fletcher headed in a deep cross by Mick O'Callaghan in the 29th minute.

But any hopes White may have had of seeing his side fightback were extinguished after the interval.

It could have been worse. Des Boateng gave away a needless penalty within minutes of the re-start but Iga dived low to his right to turn Stevenson's spot-kick round the post.

The miss, rather than spurring on St Leonards, fuelled Spalding's desire and Stevenson added the third with a low shot after 65 minutes.

By this stage White was an increasingly forlorn figure on the sidelines and he brought himself on with 15 minutes remaining.

But further goals from Stevenson, after 77 minutes, and substitute Mick King two minutes from time completed the rout.

Boateng capped a miserable afternoon by getting himself sent off for a late tackle on Andy Moore with five minutes left.

Fletcher, 22, caught the eye with a string of useful crosses from the left wing but the London-based player admitted his future is now in doubt.

He said: "It is a shock that Micky Taylor has gone, I always had a lot of respect for him. But they want local players, so what can you do?

"I love playing football here but it doesn't give me any passion for the club to be treated like a foreigner.

"What has gone on here in the last week has scarred people mentally and no one really knows what is going on.

"We can't defend as a team and the fact we let in another five goals showed that."

The new manager certainly has plenty to think about.