EASTLEIGH are ready to field their youngest side of the season at Guiseley on Saturday after some heavy-duty winter pruning by manager Martin Allen.

Allen, a keen gardener, has some budding young talent at his disposal for the National League trip to Nethermoor and will breathe some “fresh air” into his 14th-placed team after a dismal home defeat to Woking a fortnight ago.

Midfielders Sam Matthews and Ben Close, loaned from AFC Bournemouth and Portsmouth respectively, are in line for their debuts along with new defensive arrival Chinua Cole from Staines Town.

The loans of Hakeem Odoffin (Wolves) and Tyler Garratt (Doncaster) have been extended to the end of the season, while pacy winger Mekhi McLeod will look to build on an electric debut off the bench against Woking – a rare ray of sunshine on a bleak afternoon.

“I didn’t enjoy the Woking game and I knew driving home that things had to change,” said Allen.

“In the winter a garden gets cut back and, coming into spring, you get new, young growth and flowers that make everyone happy.

“We’ve got some young, talented players in McLeod, Matthews, Close, Hakeem and Chinua and (striker) Scott Wilson is going to get his chance in a fresh, exciting team.

“Young (forward Tom) Bearwish is about to sign a contact too.”

There have been some key departures since the turn of the year with Luke Coulson, Joe Partington and Mikael Mandron all sold to Football League clubs, and Jake Howells, Bondz N’Gala, Ryan Bird, Jai Reason, David Pipe (loan), Connor Essam (loan) and Tony Lee moving on.

With add-ons, chairman Stewart Donald reckons the combined fees for Coulson, Partington and Mandron could rake in £200,000-£250,000 and, that, plus significant savings on wages, will help towards team building for next term.

“Decisions were made to try and cut costs and we’ve brought in some younger players on loan or from lower leagues and we’ll see what we get from them for the rest of the season,” said Allen.

Savings have also been made behind the scenes with Allen’s trusty assistant and goalkeeping coach Carl Muggleton moving on, along with Matt Lewton who assisted with scouting, recruitment and player sales.

“It’s disappointing but, at the end of the day, this is a business as well as a football club,” said Allen.

“We’ve saved two salaries there and that will go towards the playing staff which is key for us going forward.

“We had 29 players and we’re down to about 19 now which is a sensible figure to work with.

“We’ve got long-term injuries as well and the wage bill for me is still too high. It’s not needed, it’s wasted money.”

Both defender Reda Johnson and goalkeeper Ryan Clarke are fit to re-join the squad this weekend, but Allen said: “They’ve still got work to do. Their fitness levels are behind the others.”

Given all Eastleigh's upheavals, their 2-1 opening-day win over Guiseley seems light years away.

The West Yorkshire outfit are third-to-bottom, but are unbeaten at home in the league since Macclesfield's visit in late September.