Lee Bradbury has left his role as assistant manager at League Two Crawley Town to return to Non-League as Eastleigh manager.
The 46-year-old replaces Ben Strevens as the National League Spitfires’ boss.
Bradbury has plenty of Non-League experience having led Havant & Waterlooville to successive promotions from Step 3 to Step 1 in 2016-17 and 2017-18 winning both the Isthmian Premier and National League South titles.
The former Bournemouth manager also had a brief spell at Eastbourne Borough before becoming John Yems’ assistant at the Red Devils.
Bradbury told the club’s website: “I’m really pleased, it’s been a tough decision to leave Crawley but it’s one I’m pleased that I’ve done and I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“I felt like I was ready for a new challenge as a manager again and it was exciting to come to a club like this to get that opportunity.
“Eastleigh has always been a club on the up over previous years, as I know from my time at Havant. Even though the clubs have been local rivals I knew that Eastleigh were always looking up and I believe that is still the case, which was a big attraction for me.
“There’s a good fanbase and good club here, and things have really improved behind the scenes around the ground too. I’ve been really impressed with what I’ve seen so far.
“In terms of what I want to bring to the table , it will be organisation, hopefully excitement for the fans, and I want to let the players play with freedom. I want us to play aggressive, attacking football – working hard high up the pitch but not forgetting those vital clean sheets that good teams are built on.
“There’s good people here behind the scenes and I think the whole club is set up ready to move up the divisions, and I hope I can be the one to give them that in the near future.”
Jason Bristow, who was interim boss following Strevens’ departure, will remain as part of the first team coaching staff whilst still keeping his role as Head of Youth Development at the club.
