Eastleigh's statement of intent

By Wendy Gee - 

MANAGER Ian Baird sees the signing of winger Damian Scannell as a statement of intent from Eastleigh's potential new majority shareholders Bridle Insurance.

According to director of football Dave Malone, it could be early January before all the legal formalities have been tied up in getting Bridle on board.

But the company have already stumped up generous sponsorship without which the return of crowd favourite Scannell for an undisclosed fee from Dagenham & Redbridge would never have been possible.

"It's a marquee signing and a mark of what the new owners are looking to do," said Baird.

News that Scannell has penned a two-year contract and will make his Spitfires comeback at home to rock-bottom Thurrock tomorrow in the Blue Square Bet South has excited the fans.

And Baird himself is looking forward to working again with the 26-year-old who, he revealed, was considering hanging up his boots just three months before leaving Eastleigh for Southend United in the 2008 January transfer window.

"I arrived at Eastleigh in the October and on the first night of training Damian told me he was giving up football. The club had Phil Handford as coach and Damian was disillusioned with the way they were playing," said Baird.

"I told him that talk of giving up was a bit extreme and urged him not to be a 'could've, should've but never was' footballer - and, for three months Damian was outstanding.

"He and I had a good relationship, but not all players and managers get on well.

"And from what John Still, the Dagenham & Redbridge manager has told me, that's what happened there as well. It's the way of the world in football."

When Scannell got his big League break, he spoke of finishing his career at Eastleigh.

Given his age, his return has come sooner than expected, but Baird said: "The first thing I asked Damian was why he wanted to come back and he said it wasn't about money, it was about enjoying football again.

"He was outstanding for three months here and I hope he can be outstanding again.

"By his own admission Damian should have done more homework before joining Dagenham after his Southend contract had expired.

"John Still's got tried and trusted methods, but Damian didn't fit into that.

"I'd like to think I know how to get the best out of him and hopefully I will."

Eastleigh lose Jamie Slabber, Danny Smith and Ian Herring to suspension tomorrow, but Ross Bottomley returns from a one-match. Chris Flood is a doubt.