PAUL Reid and Matt Tubbs have returned to Eastleigh.

Director of football/manager Richard Hill has signed both players on a short term contract until the end of the season in a bid to end the club's dismal run of 10 league games without a win.

Hill signed centre half Reid for the Spitfires in 2014 and also took him to Whitehawk earlier this season.

Following Hill’s departure from the Sussex club, Reid had a spell as joint-manager of the Hawks, but it didn’t work out as Whitehawk struggled at the wrong end of the National League South and he was restored to playing duties.

Hill said: “Paul contacted me because we’re mates and said he cares for Eastleigh and feels for the club, and asked if there was anything he could do to help.

"He’s someone who felt he wanted to be at our club.

“I know it was easy because we were successful, but the last time I was here as manager we created a group of players that cared about the club and Reidy was one of those.”

Tubbs had a spell on loan at Eastleigh from Portsmouth in the second half of last season, but only managed two goals.

He has recently been at FA Cup heroes Sutton, where he was an unused sub in the 2-0 loss to Arsenal recently.

Hill said: "I appreciate Matt Tubbs was not the most popular player with supporters when he was here last season. It was evident that Tubbs was being judged, arriving at the club with a big weight on his shoulders, and by his own admission he did not fulfil expectations.

Tubbs recently contacted former Sutton colleague Craig McAllister, who returned to Eastleigh last month prior to Martin Allen's dismissal, again offering any help he could.

"He said he has unfinished business at the club," reckoned Hill.

Tubbs signed a one-year contract for Forest Green Rovers in the summer.

That move didn't work out and he was loaned to Woking, where he scored on his debut – against Eastleigh – in a 3-3 draw at Kingfield in October.

He signed for Sutton United on a permanent contract on December 1, 2016.

On January 21, he scored his first league goal for Sutton in a 1-1 home draw – again, against Eastleigh!

Both players are in the Eastleigh squad that faces Barrow at the Silverlake tomorrow.