Features

The Big Interview: Kelvin Davis – Virgil van Dijk’s exit taught me you must live for the moment

The moment Burton Albion signalled their intention to sign Tyrese Shade, Eastleigh manager Kelvin Davis knew the game was up – and memories of Virgil van Dijk’s big money move to Liverpool came to his mind.

by
Chris Dunlavy
17 August 2025

PREMIER CLASS: Boss Kelvin Davis is hoping his Premier League experience can help lift Eastleigh this season PICTURE: Graham Scambler

Eastleigh manager - Kelvin Davis

The moment Burton Albion signalled their intention to sign Tyrese Shade, Kelvin Davis knew the game was up.
“Anybody who’s been in that situation – as a player, as a coach, as a dressing room – knows the score,” says the Eastleigh boss, who saw star man Shade plunder 14 goals after arriving at the Silverlake on a free transfer from Swindon last summer.
“When a player has an opportunity to play in a league above and there’s a substantial fee that’s put to the club, you don’t get the same player afterwards. You simply don’t.”
And Davis should know. Towards the...

Continue reading...

Access all our premium content from as little as 14p per day!

Already a subscriber to our website? Login

Read our latest news on any of these social networks!

Tackle the News

- Sign Up for our weekly Non-League Newsletter

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.

Your subscription has been successful.

More in Features

My life in non-league – with Mark Burke

After 41 years at Hitchin Town, it’s very difficult for me to choose my greatest achievement or a standout moment - says Non-League managerial stalwart Mark Burke.
Pre-season is whetting the appetite

FANS’ FORUM NON-LEAGUE football is back – and already we’ve got plenty of meat on the bones to chew off ! Take Tuesday night’s pre-season friendlies, for example, where it all seemed to happen. The visit of Crewe Alexandra was expected to be one of the biggest money-spinners of the...
Fantasy Non-League 2026-27 – Introduction & Entry Form

Fantasy Non-League 2026-27 - Introduction & Entry Form
Haver heart! Stop bosses raiding exes

FANS’ FORUM THE NON-LEAGUE PAPER Sunday, July 5 I WOULD like to add further to the comment made in (Fans’ Forum NLP, June 21) by your correspondent Kevin Bower. I believe a lot of the problems at Step 6 stem from managers “chasing the money” where they can obtain a...