Eastleigh offload two as Whelan and Hare depart

By Jon Couch

RETURN: Tom Whelan

EASTLEIGH have begun their reshuffle following the departure of manager Ben Strevens by allowing two of their star players to move back closer to home.

The Spitfires, without a win since January 2, have let midfielder Tom Whelan re-join Chesterfield for an undisclosed fee, while wing-back Josh Hare has switched to Dagenham & Redbridge.

Whelan, 25, made 31 appearances for the southcoast club this season but insists his return to the Spireites to become Paul Cook’s first signing was a personal necessity and came as a result of lengthy negotiations.

“I’ve enjoyed my time here but unfortunately for personal reasons I need to head back closer to home,” he told the Eastleigh website.

“The club have been accommodating with me and I am grateful for that. I discussed this move a couple of months ago and stayed here as long as I could, but as time has gone on the need to move back up north has impacted me more and Eastleigh have granted me permission to go.

“I’d like to thank the club for reluctantly allowing me to go as I know they could have stood in my way –I wish them the best going forward.”

Hare, meanwhile, insists he cannot wait to pull on a red and blue of National League promotion chasers Dagenham.

The 27-year-old came up through the ranks at Gillingham before enjoying spells at Eastbourne Borough and Maidstone United. He then impressed at Eastleigh to earn a move to League One Bristol Rovers, playing 39 times in the third tier, before returning to the Spitfires and is pleased to now be part of Daryl McMahon’s squad.

“I heard about the interest and as soon as I found out I couldn’t wait to get going and get started, so I’m really, really happy,” he told the club’s website.