CONFERENCE Premier newcomers Eastleigh have unveiled experienced defender Paul Reid as their third summer signing.

The 32-year-old former Glasgow Rangers man has joined Richard Hill’s Spitfires on a free transfer, penning a two-year deal at the Silverlake Stadium following his release from Northampton Town.

Reid – pictured with bleached hair playing for Barnsley at Saints in 2007 – had two spells with the Cobblers, rejoining them on a short-term contract last summer – nine years after his previous stint at Sixfields which is where he and Hill first met.

“I knew Reidy from Northampton Town when I was assistant manager there,” Hill explained.

“He’s an experienced player and a good player but, because he’s based in the north of England, no-one down here knows him.

“I’ve known him a lot of years but had lost touch.

“I saw he was available, but I didn’t think we’d get him. But I dropped him a text and it snowballed from there.

“He’s based in Leeds at the moment, but he’s doing a bit of football agency work with a company in London.”

After impressing with his home town club Carlisle United, the 6ft 2in centre-back earned a £600,000 move to Rangers in 2000 – the same year he was capped by England under-19s.

Reid never played a first-team game for the Glasgow outfit and was loaned out to Preston and Northampton before joining the Cobblers in 2003.

A move to Barnsley followed in July 2004 and he captained them to promotion from League One via the play-offs two years later.

Reid made over 140 appearances for Carlisle, Colchester and Scunthorpe before Northampton released him at the end of his short-term contract in January.

He becomes Hill’s third summer signing, following on from the frontline captures of James Constable and Jack Midson.