Flood aiming for League return

By Wendy Gee - 

EASTLEIGH'S new loan signing Chris Flood has not given up hope of returning to the Football League.

The 21-year-old attacking midfielder had a brief stint with the Spitfires in 2009 following his release from QPR whom he had joined the previous summer from Brentford.

He left the Silverlake Stadium to join Salisbury City in the Conference National and caught the eye of Crawley Town who stumped up £10,000 for him in July 2010.

Crawley subsequently loaned Flood out to Dorchester who signed him permanently in February.

But the Magpies transfer-listed him last week - just four months after he had signed a one-year deal at the Avenue Stadium which includes an option for a second year.

Dorchester chairman Shaun Hearn says that there is every chance Flood could return to the Magpies after his loan spell with Eastleigh expires.

But, in the meantime, the former Winchester City youngster is just happy to be in the shop window with Eastleigh who boast an excellent record of helping players on to bigger and better things.

The progression of Aaron Martin, Brett Williams, Damian Scannell and Mark Marshall from Eastleigh into the Football League has not gone unnoticed by Andover-based Flood, who said: "I like being here.

"I still hope to get back into the Football League and I know a lot of players have moved on from Eastleigh to professional careers, so it's a great stepping stone."

Flood, who scored on his Spitfires' debut in last Saturday's excellent 4-1 home win over Maidenhead, added: "I was really impressed with the team. Our first half was faultless, with lots of good movement and passes.

"I only met the lads before the game, but I already knew Spud (Ian Herring) from a loan spell at Forest Green."

Flood was one of four loan players in the Eastleigh side last Saturday, two of whom are nearing the end of their current deal.

Winger Graeme Montgomery's second month from Aldershot Town expires tomorrow and Port Vale left-back Michael Green's month is up next week.

"Ideally I'd like to keep them both," said Eastleigh boss Ian Baird.

"When they came to us you could see they hadn't played a lot of games, but they've got progressively better."

Having won three of their last four Blue Square Bet South matches, the Spitfires are in better shape than tomorrow's hosts Farnborough who have lost six on the bounce.

"They've had an horrendous run that can't be ignored," said Baird.

"But we had them watched against Chelmsford last week and they competed well until they conceded and then their heads dropped.

"Like us, they're a club in transition. But whereas their entire squad are full-time, we've only got seven full-time lads who are all under 20.

"We put in one of our best away performances at Farnborough last season (a 2-1 victory) and we can go there with confidence off the back of a good win over Maidenhead."