EX-SAINT Jack Dovey has been released from his Eastleigh contract ready to explore new opportunities in Australia.

The 21-year-old goakeeper is off to Melbourne initially where he will team up with another ex-Spitfire Adam Gatcum and seek to play at semi-professional level for a season and then hopefully work his way up the leagues.

A product of the Saints academy, Dovey signed for Eastleigh in October 2011 and established himself as regular number one before being displaced by the vastly more experienced Ross Flitney, signed from Gillingham.

Dovey has made 62 appearances for Eastleigh's first team, just four of them this season.

Though disappointed to lose the talented, young 'keeper, Spitfires boss Richard Hill said: "I made a similar decision in 1983 and moved to New Zealand, so I fully understand Jack's motives for such a move.

"I have told him I don't want to see him again unless he is signing registration forms for Eastleigh FC."