IAN BAIRD says the return of Paul Doswell will add a “large amount of spice” to Eastleigh’s FA Trophy tie against Sutton United.
The Spitfires were paired with the Ryman Premier Division leaders in the first round draw, setting up an emotional return to the Silverlake Stadium for Us manager Doswell on December 11.
Doswell made his managerial name with Eastleigh, leading the club on their meteoric rise from the Wessex League to the Conference South.
He won’t be the only member of the Sutton squad returning to Eastleigh.
Ex-Silverlake favourite, striker Andy Forbes, is currently on loan at Sutton from Woking, while another popular ex-Spitfire, goalkeeper Wayne Shaw, is a coach at the Londoners.
Karim El-Salahi, Steve Watts and Karl Murray are three other Sutton players who will come up against their former employers.
Spitfires boss Baird said: “Obviously there is a lot of history between Eastleigh and Paul Doswell and that will add a large amount of spice to it all as will the fact they have four or five ex- Eastleigh players.”
Baird hopes the return of Doswell and his Eastleigh old boys will help attract a bigger crowd.
“I hope so,” he added. “If we were playing Sutton normally nothing would be said but with Paul Doswell’s affiliation to Eastleigh it certainly adds something.”
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