Eastleigh are planning to welcome in a new era at Saints by giving fans their first glimpse of the men running the club.

The new era at St Mary's will get underway on the pitch with a pre-season friendly at Eastleigh's Silverlake Stadium on Saturday, July 15, kick-off 3pm, and all Saints' new movers and shakers will be there.

As well as the friendly, new board members Jim Hone, Lee Hoos, Patrick Trant and Leon Crouch have all confirmed they will attend, along with the club's most successful manager Lawrie McMenemy, who is now on the football board.

Also, there to welcome the new breed will be Saints legend Jason Dodd while Mike Osman will be compering on the microphone before the match to warm up the crowd.

Eastleigh are planning to make it a party atmosphere and will be releasing over 1,000 red and white balloons before the game kicks off.

Eastleigh boss Paul Doswell said: "Like everybody connected with Southampton, we are looking at the future rather than the past. This is not celebrating Rupert Lowe leaving the club, this is looking forward to a bright future for the club.

"We will be releasing 1,000 red-and-white balloons before the game and are encouraging fans to bring their own with them to make it look quite spectacular.

"The game will give fans their first opportunity to meet the new directors for the first time as well as our new board and also see the first team in action.

"We hope to turn it into a real party atmosphere and hope as many Saints fans as possible will come and get involved, especially as it's something they have cared so passionately about."

Tickets are priced £10 for adults and £5 concessions and are on sale from Eastleigh now and on the gate on the day for whatever is left.

Eastleigh open their pre-season campaign at home to Yeovil, and former Saints physio Jim Joyce, this Friday, kick-off 7.45pm.