SOCCER: Easthope latest to enhance Bay squad

HAMISH BIDWELL
Another Napier City Rovers old boy has answered Hawke's Bay United's SOS call.
Midfielder Shaun Easthope yesterday joined veteran striker Martin Akers in agreeing to come to the aid of the ailing New Zealand Football Championship franchise. With no wins from its first seven games, the team made its third signing of this week's transfer window, picking up the former Waikato FC, Miramar and New Zealand under-20 star from Auckland club Eastern Suburbs.
"Shaun was here in 2002, which was the year that we won the national league by five points, and he was a big part of that success," said Hawke's Bay assistant coach Perry Cotton.
"He's a good, honest midfield player and we've been in touch with him for about the last month, since he expressed some interest in coming back. I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago, when we played Auckland City up in Auckland.
"We weren't specifically looking to bring in a midfield player, more just whatever quality players were available, but, in saying that, he will add a lot to the squad in terms of competition for places.
"He's probably what you'd call a sitting midfield player, who's very aggressive in the tackle, has a great attitude and is a great person who will give us 110 percent.
"Auckland City were looking at him for the summer league but, at the time, he was looking at moving into triathlons. But after a bit of time out, he realised how much he missed playing in the national league and got in touch with us.
"He's been here before so he knows the place and knows the environment and he should be down here and available for Friday's match against Waitakere."
With the transfer window to close on December 9, Cotton said Hawke's Bay could make further additions. But with the other NZFC franchises unlikely to give up any players, a limited number of un-signed quality footballers was floating about.