National League Eastleigh have signed former Bristol Rovers full-backs Josh Hare and Michael Kelly following their release by the Gas.
Right-back Hare returns to the Spitfires having spent an impressive season in Hampshire in 2018/19 which earned him his move to Rovers in the first place.
The 26-year-old enjoyed a fine start to life in the blue and white quarters but after an ACL injury and the exit of Graham Coughlan struggled to break back into the team under Ben Garner, Paul Tisdale and then Joey Barton.
Left-back Kelly, meanwhile, spent the second half of last season on loan at Yeovil Town and now joins his former Rovers teammate at Ten Acres.
Both were among the 13 players not included on Rovers retained list last month as manager Joey Barton looks to build his own squad in order to secure promotion from League Two.
“When Strevs (Ben Strevens, Eastleigh manager) got in touch, it was a no-brainer decision to come back," said Hare. "I’ve got a lot of good memories here and I can’t wait to get going again.”
To continue the Rovers-link, Hare and Kelly's arrivals also coincide with Eastleigh's release of former Gas defender Joe Partington who left the Mem in the summer of 2019 to return to the south coast.
"I’m happy to be here, I’ve heard a lot of good things from people I know that have been at the club, and I can’t wait to get going," Kelly said.
"I think of myself as a leader, and a defender who likes to attack and create opportunities for the strikers in the box, and I hope I can bring that to team."
