Marshall joins Robins for week

- By Wendy Gee

Eastleigh boss Ian Baird has agreed to let flying winger Mark Marshall join League One club Swindon Town for a week's training.

Swindon boss Maurice Malpas is keen to take a closer look at the pacy, 21-year-old wideman, who joined Eastleigh, initially on loan, from Grays Athletic in January as a replacement for Damian Scannell, who was sold to Southend United when the transfer window opened.

But though Eastleigh are willing to let Marshall train with the Robins for a week, the young Londoner is under contract with the Spitfires until the end of next season and Baird stressed: "They certainly won't be having him for pre-season."

After announcing his arrival at the Silverlake Stadium with three goals in his first two matches, the speedy Marshall played a key part in pushing Eastleigh into the Blue Square South play-off zone.

But the former Yeovil Town player dropped a glass on his foot in a domestic mis-hap over Easter and his absence from the side coincided with a damaging dip in results which ultimately cost the Spitfires a play-off place and possible promotion to the Conference National (Blue Square Premier.)

Swindon manager Malpas was not naming names yesterday, but revealed to the local press: "There's one or two players we've been trying to encourage to come in and do a pre-season here.

"They're going to decide in the next couple of days if that's what they want to do.

"They are midfield players - two wide right players, actually.

"One is out of contract and one is still playing. He's at Eastleigh. He's a young boy and he is one for the future.

"I've got the nod for him so I've invited him to pre-season."

Marshall made it clear when he first joined Eastleigh that his goal was to get into the professional game. "I'm not here to stand in the way of anybody," said Baird.