Baird issues rallying call to fans

By Wendy Gee -

MANAGER Ian Baird is appealing to the Eastleigh public to get behind his side for tonight's crucial Blue Square Bet South showdown against Bromley (7.45).

The Spitfires had originally been due to host the game last night. However, they decided to move it back 24 hours to allow the players more recovery time after Saturday's demanding home game against play-off rivals Chelmsford City, which they edged 2-1.

The promotion hungry club are aware that by switching nights, they now go head to head with Saints' npower League One clash against Yeovil at St Mary's.

But, like Nigel Adkins' men, the Spitfires still have everything to play for, sitting seventh in the league four points outside the play-off zone, and Baird believes they are worthy of better support.

With Saints away at Colchester last Saturday, Eastleigh attracted a crowd of 610 to the Silverlake Stadium for the Chelmsford game – slightly above their season's average of 530.

But Baird admitted: “I thought 610 was disappointing considering it was such an important game and Chelmsford would have brought at least 50 with them.

“We've got a loyal band of fans at Eastleigh, but I just wish there were more of them. One or two knock the style of football we play, but the proof of the pudding is that we're right up there with the league's top scorers and fighting for a place in the play-offs.”

For Eastleigh, the battle to get fans through the turnstile is so much tougher because they are relatively new kids on the Conference block.

“Only eight years ago Eastleigh Football Club was in the Wessex League,” said Baird.

“The club's taken massive strides since then. But you've only got to look at the support base of other top sides, like Braintree, Ebbsfleet, Chelmsford, Farnborough and Woking, who all have long traditions at this level and higher, to see what we're up against.

“Our supporters all say they want the dream of Conference football at Eastleigh and, believe me, we're all desperate to get there too, but to sustain it we need a decent fan base.

“We're the biggest non-league side in this area because of the level we're playing at and our lads deserve more support.”

As long a top scorer Jamie Slabber (calf) and on-loan midfielder Ian Herring (dead leg) shake off slight knocks, Eastleigh will keep an unchanged squad from Saturday.

Goalkeeper Gareth Barfoot is available for selection having served a one-match suspension, while Luke Byles, Warren Goodhind and Danny Smith are still out with hamstring injuries.

Bromley have slipped to ninth, having lost 2-0 at Baird's old club Havant & Waterlooville on Saturday.

• This Thursday (March 10, 7.30pm) Eastleigh reserves take on Team Solent in the Southampton Senior Cup semi-final at Sholing FC's Portsmouth Road home.