Moses ninth in at Eastleigh - and there's still more to come
By Wendy Gee - 
MOSES Ademola became the ninth player to touch down in Eastleigh's summer arrivals' lounge this week.
But manager Ian Baird is still one, or possibly two, players short of his dream squad for next season.
Ideally he would like to make another midfield addition but, in order to take his signings into double figures, he needs to move one or two players on.
Midfielders Danny Smith and Chris Flood were both transfer-listed at the start of the close season but, as yet, there is no sign of either finding a new club.
"We've had some tentative enquiries for Chris and Danny from clubs in lower leagues and I've passed on their numbers to the players but, as yet, nothing has happened," said Baird.
"In my opinion we need one, or possibly two, more signings to complete the squad, but I'm aware of the financial situation and when I spoke to (club owner) Stewart Donald, he said we'd need to get one or maybe two players out."
Ademola, a striker/right winger signed from Blue Square Bet South champions Woking, joins Marvin Williams, Osei Sankofa, Glen Southam, Dale Binns, Jai Reason, Jack Dovey, Craig McAllister and Wayne Shaw in pinning his colours to Eastleigh's promotion-seeking mast.
The 22-year-old, a former Brentford professional and finalist in Sky TV's Football Icon 2, scored 21 goals in 71 league appearances over two-and-a-half seasons at Woking.
"I'm very, very pleased as he is a good age with a proven goal scoring record," said Baird. "When we've played against him over the years, he has been a thorn in our side and will be a super addition to the squad.
"I'm fully aware of the expectation for next season - I've been aware of it for months. But Stewart and the board have backed me 100 per cent and given me the tools which are hopefully the right ones for the job.
"The players should gain confidence looking around in training and seeing who's around them and they should be thirsty and very hungry to deliver what we want to achieve."
Eastleigh begin their pre-season games at Poole Town next Thursday (July 19, 7:45pm) before travelling to league rivals Sutton United on Saturday.
Compared to some clubs, it's a late start, but Baird said: "I've deliberately gone for a five-and-a-half to six week pre-season.
"Some clubs have already played games, but I don't get that.
"When I was a player, pre-season was always five weeks because if it's any longer you get bored playing games that don't mean anything.
"These days players don't come back two stone overweight and have to run hard to get the weight off. We've been back for training three times and had two double sessions, so we've caught up in any case.
"I think we've got everything right, including the quality of the opposition for pre-season."
MOSES Ademola became the ninth player to touch down in Eastleigh's summer arrivals' lounge this week.
But manager Ian Baird is still one, or possibly two, players short of his dream squad for next season.
Ideally he would like to make another midfield addition but, in order to take his signings into double figures, he needs to move one or two players on.
Midfielders Danny Smith and Chris Flood were both transfer-listed at the start of the close season but, as yet, there is no sign of either finding a new club.
"We've had some tentative enquiries for Chris and Danny from clubs in lower leagues and I've passed on their numbers to the players but, as yet, nothing has happened," said Baird.
"In my opinion we need one, or possibly two, more signings to complete the squad, but I'm aware of the financial situation and when I spoke to (club owner) Stewart Donald, he said we'd need to get one or maybe two players out."
Ademola, a striker/right winger signed from Blue Square Bet South champions Woking, joins Marvin Williams, Osei Sankofa, Glen Southam, Dale Binns, Jai Reason, Jack Dovey, Craig McAllister and Wayne Shaw in pinning his colours to Eastleigh's promotion-seeking mast.
The 22-year-old, a former Brentford professional and finalist in Sky TV's Football Icon 2, scored 21 goals in 71 league appearances over two-and-a-half seasons at Woking.
"I'm very, very pleased as he is a good age with a proven goal scoring record," said Baird. "When we've played against him over the years, he has been a thorn in our side and will be a super addition to the squad.
"I'm fully aware of the expectation for next season - I've been aware of it for months. But Stewart and the board have backed me 100 per cent and given me the tools which are hopefully the right ones for the job.
"The players should gain confidence looking around in training and seeing who's around them and they should be thirsty and very hungry to deliver what we want to achieve."
Eastleigh begin their pre-season games at Poole Town next Thursday (July 19, 7:45pm) before travelling to league rivals Sutton United on Saturday.
Compared to some clubs, it's a late start, but Baird said: "I've deliberately gone for a five-and-a-half to six week pre-season.
"Some clubs have already played games, but I don't get that.
"When I was a player, pre-season was always five weeks because if it's any longer you get bored playing games that don't mean anything.
"These days players don't come back two stone overweight and have to run hard to get the weight off. We've been back for training three times and had two double sessions, so we've caught up in any case.
"I think we've got everything right, including the quality of the opposition for pre-season."
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