Eastleigh narrowly avoided relegation from the National League after a disappointing campaign, but now plans for next season begin with the club confirming its retained list.
The Spitfires suffered a negative turn of form since the turn of the year, winning just three times in all competitions between January and March.
However, interim manager Richard Hill managed to somewhat steady the ship, losing just one of their final five league games as they managed to 17th, eight points above the relegation zone.
They become the fourth National League side to submit their retained/release list after Aldershot Town, Solihull Moors and Boston United confirmed theirs within the last 24 hours.
Eastleigh confirm exit of talisman
After a campaign that almost ended with the clubs relegation to the National League South, Eastleigh have unsurprisingly said goodbye to several players as they plan a rebuild this summer.
Of all released players, National League talisman Paul McCallum is the standout name on the list. The forward was on loan at Dorking Wanderers towards the end of the season, but injuries plagued his 2025/26 campaign.
Across all competitions, McCallum made 29 appearances for both Eastleigh & Dorking, scoring three goals and providing two additional assists.
His exit has been confirmed via the club’s retained list, alongside seven other players – as the Spitfires begin the task of getting their side ready for next season.
The full list of released players is as follows;
- Richard Brindley, Inih Effiong, Lloyd Humphries, Niall Maher, Paul McCallum, Josh McNamara, Jake Vokins & Angel Waruih
Midfielder Connor Underhill is the only out of contract player that has been retained by the club, after his one-year option was triggered.
Is this summer Eastleigh’s most important?
Since the 2018/19 season, Eastleigh have failed to reach the play-off places and with the increased competition throughout the National League, this summer is likely to be an important one for the club.
Throughout the 2025/26 season, Eastleigh conceded 80 goals in total which was the fourth-worst in the entire division. Their defensive issues are likely to be a high priority for their recruitment team this summer.
On the flip side, the Spitfires scored 57 goals which was on the positive side – though star forward Aaron Blair was responsible for 20 of those – either through scoring or setting them up.
If he happened to struggle or is sold this summer, Eastleigh would have a big task ahead of them to try and make up the difference before next season begins.
The club released a statement in February which revealed that they were chasing sponsorship opportunity to try and combat the rising costs of running a football club. They also mention a struggle with supporter-generated revenue stating…
‘The cost of our utility bills now outweighs the income generated from season tickets. These combined pressures have created a substantial need for external funding.
‘While our fanbase ranks mid-table in attendance, revenue generated from supporters remains among the lowest in the league.
‘Our current chairman is happy to cover this financial shortfall for the benefit of our fans, ensuring there has been no reduction to the playing budget.
‘This is clearly extremely unusual within the football pyramid and a benefit which we might not be able to continue without that support.’
This can be seen as a concern for Eastleigh’s supporters but it could also be a blessing in disguise.
By this, a smaller budget could mean that the Spitfires focus more on trying to recruit players from the lower divisions such as their star forward Aaron Blair – thus saving money and ensuring player quality continues to come through the door.
With a higher player turnover, if Eastleigh can land their top summer targets, they potentially give themselves a stronger opportunity to have a better campaign next time around.
