Eastleigh have completed the signing of former Saints defender Dan Harding on a free transfer after his release by Championship side Nottingham Forest.

Harding signed a two-year deal in time to make him available for the Vanarama National League opener at Southport on Saturday.

It is a quite astonishing piece of business by the Spitfires to bring in the 31-year-old left-back, who moves to Stoneham Lane after his contract finished at the City Ground.

Harding, who played more than 110 times for Saints between 2009-12 and was in the League One team of the year during his spell, admitted he'd had several offers from Championship clubs, but was excited by the project at Eastleigh, which will also see him coach at the club's academy. 

The Gloucester-born defender made more than 30 appearances in the Championship last season, firstly for Forest and then on loan at Millwall.