EASTLEIGH signing Richard Brindley believes he can provide experience and "hunger to win" as they target success this campaign.

Defender Brindley brings with him 153 matches of experience from the English Football League, in addition to 138 appearances in the National League.

He made 27 appearances in League Two last season, starting the season as first-choice with seven wins in their first 11 fixtures. 

Brindley, 31, had been with Notts County since 2019 and was part of their side that earned promotion to the football league during the 2022/23 campaign.

Brindley is now aiming to replicate that with the Spitfires, who feel they are a couple more top signings away from their 2024/25 squad.

He said: "I want to win. I'm very hungry to win, so I guess you could say that is something that I bring out of my teammates in terms of a winning mentality.

"I've learned from a lot of the best players in the Premier League and Championship and I've been able to take a lot of those qualities, especially the mental side.

"I think that is one of the biggest factors in the game today and the intelligence. I've been able to integrate that with the experience that I now have. 

"I'm just wanting to help this team and take a different type of role, being a little bit older now as a leader, and like I say, help this team win as much as I possibly can.

"The manager directly contacted me and we had a really good conversation. He was on the phone for about 30 or 40 minutes, and I was really impressed.

"I had interest from the Football League and the National League, and the gaffer called me and said, listen, I know you're going to have interest from elsewhere'.

"It just reminded me of Notts County when they first got relegated. They had to rebuild and build a new culture, a new system, a new style of play and a whole new team.

"It took Notts County maybe two or three years to achieve the promotion, but it reminded me a lot of that at the very beginning with what this manager wants to bring to the table."

Brindley added: "I like that. I'm very experienced in terms of producing results and that transitional period for a football team.

"I've trained with the lads and it is high intensity. The lads are very, very fit, so that's good to see, and that's one of the most important factors.

"The boys are a really good bunch and there's a lot of competitors in there, which is good to see."

Brindley came through Norwich City's academy at a time when the Canaries were in the top flight, having enjoyed back-to-back promotions between 2009-2011.

He recalled: "That taught me so many lessons. Looking back at it now, I had an unbelievable start to my career where I was fortunate to have a lot of the best coaches.

"Norwich were fluctuating between Premier League and Championship a lot of the time, so I was able to see how the best players did it at a very high standard. 

"I've also learned that this level (National League) is very competitive. The standard here has improved massively over the years.

"I was last playing in this league a season or two back, so I'm still very familiar with this level and have a good level of experience at this level.

"To get promoted out of this league was special. I look back at it as probably one of the best moments in my career so far because of what was done."