Neil Sharp makes Eastleigh return
IAN Baird has turned to a tried and trusted player to bolster Eastleigh's squad for the Blue Square Bet South promotion run-in.
Central defender Neil Sharp is back for a third spell with the Spitfires after the briefest of stays at Bromley.
Sharp formerly of Swansea City and Woking, played for Baird at Havant & Watelooville and the pair were reunited at Eastleigh two seasons ago.
But Sharp, 33, made just nine appearances for the Spitfires before being diagnosed with cancer and spent 13 months out of the game.
He bravely fought the illness and returned to the Silverlake Stadium toasted the end of last season, playing twice before picking up a hamstring injury.
Hemel-Hempstead based Sharp began this season with Chesham and joined Bromley in December. But his Hayes Lane stay lasted barely a month as he became a victim of the alleged in-fighting that led to Mark Goldberg quitting as manager.
Explaining his decision to call on Sharp's services again, Baird said: "He can play at centre-half, right-back or as a central midfielder and the thinking with him is that he's an extra number.
"He's also got experience. Even though there is potential in our reserve side, I don't think any of them are ready for first-team football yet.
"I've made a lot of enquiries to try and bolster the squad but the problem we have is that I want to bring in players who are better than those we've got or can compete with those who are playing.
"But the average weekly wage in the Conference is £700-800, which we can't afford. Also Conference players are not going to come here, sit on the bench and wait two or three weeks to get in the side.
"You talk to League clubs about their young players, but they - quite rightly - want a guarantee they will get games.
"Sharpy's a real good character and he knows he won't just walk into this side - and Justin Bennett (signed on loan this week from Gosport Borough) is aware of that too."
Even with the additions of Bennett and Sharp, sixth-placed Eastleigh could be low on numbers tomorrow as they go gunning for a seventh straight league victory at Thurrock.
Warren Goodhind missed Tuesday's 1-0 win at St. Albans with calf/knee problems, Chris Holland is still struggling with a bad back and fellow defender Luke Byles's hamstring remains a concern.
Brett Poate returned from a broken arm and a calf injury in the Hampshire FA Senior Cup on Monday, but the ex-Saint now has a suspected knee cartilage problem.
And it's feared goalkeeper Gareth Barfoot could miss a month with a torn adductor muscle, opening the door for the experienced Jason Matthews to reclaim his place.
It was only a couple of weeks ago that Baird was marvelling at finally having a full squad available, but he said: "That squad was only 16-strong, including two goalkeepers.
"We needed bolstering, but you've got to be careful who you try and bring in."
Of 16th-placed Thurrock, Baird warned: "It'll be difficult.
"They were down the bottom, but they've brought in a new manager and have won three and drawn one of their last four games."
This afternoon, Director of football Dave Malone revealed that Neil Sharp's signing has been completed and the defender is expected to be in the squad for tomorrow's trip to Thurrock.
Central defender Neil Sharp is back for a third spell with the Spitfires after the briefest of stays at Bromley.
Sharp formerly of Swansea City and Woking, played for Baird at Havant & Watelooville and the pair were reunited at Eastleigh two seasons ago.
But Sharp, 33, made just nine appearances for the Spitfires before being diagnosed with cancer and spent 13 months out of the game.
He bravely fought the illness and returned to the Silverlake Stadium toasted the end of last season, playing twice before picking up a hamstring injury.
Hemel-Hempstead based Sharp began this season with Chesham and joined Bromley in December. But his Hayes Lane stay lasted barely a month as he became a victim of the alleged in-fighting that led to Mark Goldberg quitting as manager.
Explaining his decision to call on Sharp's services again, Baird said: "He can play at centre-half, right-back or as a central midfielder and the thinking with him is that he's an extra number.
"He's also got experience. Even though there is potential in our reserve side, I don't think any of them are ready for first-team football yet.
"I've made a lot of enquiries to try and bolster the squad but the problem we have is that I want to bring in players who are better than those we've got or can compete with those who are playing.
"But the average weekly wage in the Conference is £700-800, which we can't afford. Also Conference players are not going to come here, sit on the bench and wait two or three weeks to get in the side.
"You talk to League clubs about their young players, but they - quite rightly - want a guarantee they will get games.
"Sharpy's a real good character and he knows he won't just walk into this side - and Justin Bennett (signed on loan this week from Gosport Borough) is aware of that too."
Even with the additions of Bennett and Sharp, sixth-placed Eastleigh could be low on numbers tomorrow as they go gunning for a seventh straight league victory at Thurrock.
Warren Goodhind missed Tuesday's 1-0 win at St. Albans with calf/knee problems, Chris Holland is still struggling with a bad back and fellow defender Luke Byles's hamstring remains a concern.
Brett Poate returned from a broken arm and a calf injury in the Hampshire FA Senior Cup on Monday, but the ex-Saint now has a suspected knee cartilage problem.
And it's feared goalkeeper Gareth Barfoot could miss a month with a torn adductor muscle, opening the door for the experienced Jason Matthews to reclaim his place.
It was only a couple of weeks ago that Baird was marvelling at finally having a full squad available, but he said: "That squad was only 16-strong, including two goalkeepers.
"We needed bolstering, but you've got to be careful who you try and bring in."
Of 16th-placed Thurrock, Baird warned: "It'll be difficult.
"They were down the bottom, but they've brought in a new manager and have won three and drawn one of their last four games."
This afternoon, Director of football Dave Malone revealed that Neil Sharp's signing has been completed and the defender is expected to be in the squad for tomorrow's trip to Thurrock.
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