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Five more Eastleigh players have this week left the club, following the already departed Paul Sales (VTFC), Matt Hann (Sutton United), Chris Piper and Steve Watts (Sutton United) out of the club.

It has been revealed that left back Adam Everitt, veteran Fitzroy Simpson, experienced defender Warren Goodhind, recently signed winger Kevin James and promising youngster Adam Roberts have all been added to the above list.

Discussing the departures, Baird explained in today's Daily Echo: "Adam Everitt's a great lad who gives his all but, unfortunately, he was booked 15 times last season and at some stage he's got to wake up and realise he won't be playing too often if he carries on like that.

"I didn't want to lose Matt Hann - he's a good pro who scored 12 goals last season and didn't do at all badly.

"But he had an agreement before I came to the club that he would only train once a week. As a manager, I can't give players special dispensations.

"Fitzroy Simpson was only ever going to be with us until the end of last season and I believe he's got a job with the Jamaican FA.

"Warren Goodhind's a good lad and we offered him a deal, but he felt insulted by it. I'm not sure where he's gone."

Meanwhile it has also been reported that ill-fortuned centre back Chris Collins, who spent the best part of the 2007/8 season sidelined through injuries could also be on his way out. It is thought Collins is set to link up with Paul Doswell’s new charges Sutton United.

Amid the recent cost cutting measures, central midfielder Karl Murray has been transfer-listed. The former Grays Athletic man made the switch to the Silverlake Stadium in February this year, penning a deal until the end of the 2008/9 season. Baird commented: “I don’t want Karl Murray to go, but we’ve had to put him on the transfer list purely because of the wages he’s on.”

Baird not seeing funny side of season

- By Wendy Gee

IN a week when Paul Sales, Steve Watts and Chris Piper have left the Eastleigh players fold, manager Ian Baird says he is not bothered if any others want to follow them through the Silverlake Stadium exit door.

The Spitfires boss is not a great fan of what he refers to as footballs silly season and has already had his fill of players and their agents trying to squeeze all they can out of the club.

Putting it bluntly, he feels that in missing out on the Blue Square South play-offs, Eastleigh (himself included) underachieved and that, if anything, his players have been overpaid for what was ultimately a season of failure.

"We did throw the kitchen sink at trying to get into the play-offs and we did slightly overpay on certain players and are still overpaying some of our current players”, he said.

“As a group we didn’t achieve what we set out to do, so my message to anyone who feels they want to move on is please do."

While 30-something strikers Sales and Watts were released partly because Baird is looking for a side with a bit more legs next season, defender/midfielder Piper declined the offer of a new contract.

“I desperately wanted to keep Chris Piper, but our financial situation dictated that we offered him a lesser deal which he turned down,” said Baird.

“I’ve asked him to think about it, but he can probably go and get what he was on at Eastleigh somewhere else and I'm afraid thats not in my budget remit.

In Paul Sales' case, he did tremendously well here, showed a great attitude and I can’t praise him highly enough, but I do want a bit more legs up front.

If Steve Watts had been fit, I would have re-signed him, but he's got too many on-going injury problems and I was only prepared to offer him pre-season initially. He said he'd got offers on the table elsewhere, so I advised him to go and take them.”

Eastleigh still have 11 contracted players: Jason Matthews, Andy Harris, Luke Byles, Ashley Vickers, Jamie Brown, Anthony Riviere, Andy Forbes, Mark Marshall, Matt Hann, Karl Murray and Peter Adeniyi. Defenders Warren Goodhind and Chris Collins are both believed to have rejected reduced deals, while Adam Everitt has so far been invited back only for pre-season.

“I've had calls from agents representing my players and Ive told them that if they can find them better deals with other clubs, then go ahead and I'm talking about everyone there,” said Baird.

“I get fed up with this every year.

These players are in Conference South part-time football, but about 90 per cent of them don’t work so they consider themselves to be professional footballers, training twice a week and playing on a Saturday.

In my book, anyone who wants money in life has got to earn it and, unfortunately this season, we underachieved and we didn't earn it.

Now I've got players telling me they want this and that but the question I ask is: Did this group of players really want promotion?”

Baird's old club Havant have made their first big summer signing, capturing former Wycombe and Republic of Ireland under-21 centre back Ian Simpemba on a two-year deal from BSS champions Lewes.

Simpemba's arrival could hasten the exit of Hawks' unsettled defender Tom Jordan, who desperately wanted to follow Baird to Eastleigh last season.

But it is unlikely the Spitfires could afford him now having already signed Ashley Vickers from Weymouth.

April Player of the Month Awards

Blue Square Announce “Player of the Month” Awards for April

Cambridge United goalkeeper Danny Potter has been voted by fans as the Blue Square Premier “Player of the Month” for April. Potter registered the highest amount of votes this season for his performances during the month. The former Chelsea youngster kept 4 clean sheets and only conceded 3 goals in over 500 minutes of Blue Square Premier league action. Danny was instrumental in United’s push for second place in the table, which has seen them progress all the way to Wembley in the play-off final.

The award in the Blue Square North goes to Nick Rogan of Barrow. The striker was a key part of the Blue Square North’s “form team” as they secured a play-off spot and worked their way towards a place in the Blue Square Premier. Rogan netted 4 times during the period including a brace in the 5-0 victory over Redditch United.

Hampton & Richmond striker Lawrence Yaku wins the Blue Square South award after maintaining his sides’ good form with a number of important goals and assists during the month. Yaku found the net 4 times as Alan Devonshire’s side finished in the highest position in their history.

Eastleigh legend steps down - Doswell press release

He has taken the club from the Wessex League to the Blue Square South and has always given his heart and soul into Eastleigh Football Club, but news out of the blue this morning on the official website confirmed that Eastleigh great Paul Doswell has resigned from his position on the Board as an equity Director and also as Assistant Manager to Ian Baird.

Chairman Paul Murray commented on the shock revelation. “Paul has been the driving force in taking the Club from the Wessex League to the Conference South.

His contribution to this process has been immense. I, for one, will sorely miss him. I have worked closely with Paul throughout the last five years and he has always been a most important part of the team that has got us to where we are today.

He has been a player, manager, director and shareholder here at Eastleigh and his legendary status at the Club is secure. We will now move forward and continue to build on what Paul has started.”

Your tributes have been flooding in on the messageboard to thank Doswell and his efforts. You can find these and add your own by following this link: http://www.eastleigh-fc.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1980.0.

Paul's enthusiasm and character will be sorely missed around the club, I'd just like to add my thanks for what he has done and wish him all the best for the future.

Sales, Watts and Piper move on

Eastleigh have wasted little time, having missing out on a playoff place, in reassessing the squad ahead of the summer and the new 2008/2009 campaign.

Two veteran strikers are among the three names leaving the club. The third player was a key member throughout the season passed playing in excess of 40 games. A statement on the club messageboard from Eastleigh's Director of Football Dave Malone confirmed:

"Following extensive discussions today (Saturday), Eastleigh Football Club can confirm that we have released both Paul Sales and Steve Watts. We can also confirm that Chris Piper has declined our offer of a new contract.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to the above players for their significant contribution to the Club - and wish them all well for the future."

Malone also revealed the search for replacements to strengthen the squad are already well on the way.

"The Club are currently in negotiations with several other members of our playing staff, in respect of terms for next season. We are also at an advanced stage in negotiations with players we hope we may sign in the near future."

April Manager of the Month Awards

Blue Square Announce “Manager of the Month” Awards for April

“Patterson Lays the Foundations for a Summer of Hope!”

Oxford United’s Darren Patterson has won the Blue Square Premier "Manager of the Month" award for April. Patterson's side won 6 out of their last 7 Blue Square Premier matches to finish 9th in the table, after spending much of the season below halfway. The side scored 15 goals with some outstanding attacking play that must have all U’s fans licking their lips at the prospect of the 2008/09 campaign. The U’s only defeat came in a hard fought encounter away at promotion chasers Torquay United. The 5-1 win over Farsley Celtic and the 3-1 win away at Ebbsfleet United were the highlights of a fantastic month.

In the Blue Square South the award goes to Maidenhead United manager Johnson Hippolyte. Maidenhead began the month with the threat of relegation hanging over them after defeat at fellow strugglers Dorchester Town. Hippolyte’s side then went on to win three successive matches scoring 10 goals and only conceding once, to ease their fears of the drop. Two further clean sheets in their final two games gave them the points for a respectable 17th placed finish and another season in the Blue Square South.

Dean Thomas of Hinckley United has won the award in the Blue Square North. Hinckley extended their unbeaten run from the early weeks of March to 9 matches during the period. The Knitters achieved safety from relegation with their excellent run and ended up 6 points from the drop zone on the final day of the season. Three successive clean sheets in their final Blue Square North games ensured the team will take their place in the division next season.