Nasty Adam is back at Eastleigh

By Wendy Gee -  

 
Eastleigh's summer signings reached double figures last night with the return of left-back Adam Everitt from fellow Blue Square Bet South club Staines Town.

Manager Ian Baird tried to bring the 30-year-old back to the Silverlake Stadium last September, but finances were tight at the time and Everitt was out of their price range.

Everitt's last spell at the Silverlake in 2007/08 was not a great success but, according to Baird, that was chiefly because he wasn't particularly popular with his teammates.

"Some of the players I inherited at Eastleigh didn't like him because he's quite open and honest and speaks his mind," said Baird.

"But I wanted to bring him back because he brings us an ingredient we're a bit short of. We need someone who's nasty, in the right way, and vocal.

 

"Plus he's competition for Greener who has pretty much had that position to himself.

 

"Adam was Staines's captain last year, but he was out of contract. He trained at Boreham Wood and played for St Albans against Luton the other night, but he's been on my radar for some time and I'm pleased to get him."

 

Baird will up his search for one more midfielder to complete the squad now that long-serving Danny Smith is on his way to Southern Premier outfit Gosport Borough.

 

Chris Flood, the Spitfires' other transfer-listed midfielder, is the subject of interest from Poole Town and his old Salisbury City boss Tommy Widdrington at Eastbourne Borough.

 

Cassius Newton - son of Chelsea assistant boss Eddie - is likely to sign for Eastleigh. The 20-year-old may well feature in tomorrow's friendly away at Evo-Stik South & West side North Leigh.

 

"Cassius is not quite ready for the first team, but we want to build with youth and he's one for the future," Baird explained.

Having opened pre-season with a 2-2 draw at Poole, Eastleigh repeated that scoreline at BSB South rivals Sutton United last Saturday.

"People questioned why I took that game (against a side in the same league) and the reason was that I felt it would be a good measure of where we are," said Baird.

"Sutton beat us up for 45 minutes, they were very good and we were a hell of a lot better in the second half and it was a worthwhile exercise because we are going to face that every week. Teams are all going to want to beat Eastleigh's 'big-time Charlies'.

With competition for places ‘hotting up', Adam Everitt goes straight into the squad for tomorrow's friendly at North Leigh.