New deal for Forbes

By Wendy Gee - 

ANDY FORBES has been rewarded for an inspired season by signing a year's extension to his contract, keeping him at Eastleigh until the end of 2012/13.

It's not often Spitfires boss Ian Baird waxes lyrical about a player, but he readily admits  the 32-year-old striker-turned-defender has been "outstanding" and set a shining example to other members of the squad whose contracts run out this summer.

Three straight home defeats have all but extinguished Eastleigh's faint play-off flame, but Forbes has never let his high standards slip.

Baird, bitterly disappointed with the naivety that led to Tonbridge snatching a late 2-1 victory at the Silverlake on Tuesday, said: "I want us to have the best and strongest finish to the season that we can.

"I don't want to get the Factor 20 out and think I'm on holiday - and I don't expect the players to either.

"If those whose contracts are up in the summer want to take a leaf out of anyone's book, they should take it out of Forbesy's. He's been outstanding all season and, since the new owners came in, he's got better and better. He's shown he wants to be part of this club going forward."

Baird wasn't always a member of the Forbes fan club. Although he has never doubted his ability, there was a time when he felt the Reading-based utility man wasn't providing value for money, bearing in mind his wage.

That came to a head when he transfer-listed him two seasons ago and released him the following summer after a U-turn on re-signing him.

But after stints with Woking and Sutton, Forbes - scorer of 146 goals in 308 Eastleigh appearances - returned to the Silverlake as a defender last July and has well and truly won the manager round.

"Forbesy's been absolutely outstanding in a variety of positions," said Baird.

"When I came to the club I was told he didn't do pre-seasons and he didn't play 40-odd games.

"But this season he's played in every game bar one, and that includes pre-season, and he's hardly missed a training session.

"I was heavily criticised for transfer-listing him and letting him go - even by the chairman - but I've been vindicated because he's come back with a different attitude.

Eastleigh face a mid-table battle at Boreham Wood tomorrow and it's unlikely skipper Tom Jordan will make the trip.

The towering centre-back has missed two league games since going off with concussion in the Hampshire Senior Cup against Winchester.

Danny Smith returns from suspension, but Phil Appiah is still banned and Damian Scannell remains touch and go with ankle trouble.