ISTHMIAN Premier new boys Eastleigh are looking to stiffen up the midfield next season by signing former Saints Academy lad Jamie Gleeson.

The 19-year-old, pictured above, turned down the offer of a two-year contract with Yeovil Town following his release from St Mary's and spent two weeks on trial with Wigan towards the end of last season.

Currently without a club, the six-foot midfielder comes highly recommended by Eastleigh's director of football Mark Dennis, who is among the coaching staff at the Saints Academy.

Gleeson hails from the Bournemouth area and spent five years at the Cherries Academy before signing for Saints in July 2001.

Powerful in the tackle, his main strength is in the holding role but he also stepped in an emergency left-back role for Southampton's under-19s.

He made Saints reserve team debut against Chelsea - seven weeks after his 17th birthday.

If Gleeson does sign, it could mean fewer starts for Eastleigh's 37-year-old midfield warrior Taffy Richardson who is in hot demand elsewhere.

Richardson's old Salisbury City sidekick Tommy Killick would dearly love him as his number two at Poole Town and his name has also been linked with the vacant managerial job at Bashley and with joining his former Wimborne boss Alex Pike at Hamworthy United.

Although Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell has verbally shaken on a deal with Richardson for next season, he would have no objections if the tough-tackling midfielder saw his future elsewhere.

He said: "If Tommy wanted Taffy to go to Poole I wouldn't stand in his way. Taffy knows that at his age he's not a long-term bet for us and if we signed Gleeson it would limit his chances even more. But what Taffy has done is give a bit of edge and if wants to stay at Eastleigh, we'd love to keep him. He's a fantastic lad to have around the club, but I'd never try and stop him doing what he wants to do."