Dan Harding: Defender joins Eastleigh on two-year contract

Dan Harding started his career at Brighton and has also spent time at Ipswich and Southampton

Eastleigh have signed defender Dan Harding on a two-year deal following his release by Nottingham Forest.

The right-back, 31, made 28 appearances in the Championship last season, but spent the second half of the campaign on loan at relegated Millwall.

"Signing Dan I think is a massive, massive boost," Eastleigh manager Richard Hill told BBC Radio Solent.

"We've been pretty prudent this summer and kept a bit of budget back, which has allowed us to go and get Dan."

Eastleigh finished fourth in the National League last season and were beaten by Grimsby in the play-offs.

Harding is the club's seventh summer signing as they prepare for their first game of the new campaign at Southport on Saturday.

"Dan first contacted me about a month ago and asked if he could come in training," added Hill.

"We discussed if it was a possibility but then you look at Dan Harding and say that there's no way that we could even afford to sign him.

"I would imagine I'm at the top of my budget now, but Dan has come to us on a very reasonable salary."