Eastleigh appoint ex-Luton, Wimbledon, Ipswich, Sunderland, Southampton keeper as new manager

Eastleigh appoint ex-Luton, Wimbledon, Ipswich, Sunderland, Southampton keeper Kelvin Davis as their new first team manager.

He comes in to quickly replace Richard Hill, who left the club by mutual consent with immediate effect after a 3-0 defeat at Ebbsfleet United at the weekend.

The Spitfires currently sit 15th in the National League table with 39 points from 33 games played, four points above the drop zone.

📰 | Eastleigh Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Kelvin Davis as the club’s new First Team Manager! ✍️

Welcome to the #Spitfires, Kelvin! 🤝

— Eastleigh FC (@EastleighFC) February 19, 2024

CLUB STATEMENT:

Eastleigh Football Club are delighted to announce the appointment of Kelvin Davis as the club’s new First Team Manager.

The 47-year-old makes joins us with a wealth of footballing experience having made over 600 appearances during his playing career at various clubs.

Davis is well-known locally, having played in goal for Southampton FC and over 300 times including many Premier League appearances.

In the winter of 2017, Davis was appointed as senior first team coach at “The Saints”.

Davis will be joined by Danny Butterfield who will take the role of assistant manager at the club.

Butterfield achieved promotion from League Two with MK Dons as a first-team coach before being appointed as assistant manager of Macclesfield Town in 2020.

In 2022, Butterfield left Southampton FC and joined Lincoln City as assistant head coach.

Jason Bristow and Vince Bartram will remain as part of the backroom staff.

DAVIS’ CAREER:

Youth career
1991–1994 – Luton Town

Senior career
1994–1999 – Luton Town – 105 games
1994 → Torquay United (loan) – 4 games
1997 → Hartlepool United (loan) – 3 games
1999–2003 – Wimbledon – 146 games
2003–2005 – Ipswich Town – 93 games
2005–2006 – Sunderland – 35 games
2006–2016 – Southampton – 301 games
Total – 687 games (0)

International career
1995–1996 – England U21 – 3 games

Managerial career
2018 – Southampton (caretaker manager)

Honours

Southampton
Football League Championship runner-up: 2011–12
Football League One runner-up: 2010–11
Football League Trophy: 2009–10

Individual
PFA Team of the Year: 2004–05 Championship, 2009–10 League One, 2010–11 League One, 2011–12 Championship
Ipswich Town Players’ Player of the Year: 2004–05
Southampton Player of the Season: 2008–09

BUTTERFIELD’S CAREER:

Youth career
1993–1997 – Grimsby Town

Senior career
1997–2002 – Grimsby Town – 147 games (4 goals)
2002–2010 – Crystal Palace – 269 games (10 goals)
2009 → Charlton Athletic (loan) – 12 games (0 goals)
2010–2013 – Southampton – 54 games (0 goals)
2013 → Bolton Wanderers (loan) – 6 games (0 goals)
2013 – Carlisle United – 1 games (0 goals)
2013–2016 – Exeter City – 77 games (0 goals)
Total – 569 games (14 goals)

Honours

Grimsby Town
Football League Second Division play-offs: 1998
Football League Trophy: 1997–98

Crystal Palace
Football League First Division play-offs: 2004

Southampton
Football League Championship runner-up: 2011–12
Football League One runner-up: 2010–11

Individual
Grimsby Town Supporters’ Young Player of the Year: 1998–99, 1999–2000

Twitter users reacted after seeing Eastleigh appoint ex-Luton, Wimbledon, Ipswich, Sunderland, Southampton keeper Kelvin Davis as their new manager…

@ben_maitland4: Super Kelvin Davis

@ChrisBonner93: Good luck Kelvin! Top top bloke. Great appointment.

@saints_analysis: Always was a safe pair of hands 😉 Really pleased to see Kelvin back in football. Hope he does well and it’s good to see him taking charge at a local club #SaintsFC

@blufferfish089: Actually the best appointment we’ve made since Strevs

@davesaintsmad: Very happy as a Saints and Eastleigh season ticket holder. Both clubs have a great unity and Kelvin has been a loyal servant for Saints so will be fantastic in the lead role at the Spits

@davesaintsmad: What an amazing appointment. He’ll be immense. Great saints experience will put the Spits back in the top of the table. Great news

@stan_wooldridge: Great News well done Stewart

@ChapelKopArise: I don’t think I’ve ever wanted someone to succeed as much as I do Kelvin here, but my head says this will be an absolute disaster, for them both.

@Hamperings: Good luck to Kelvin and Danny 👏

@callum_ford01: Must get to more Eastleigh games 🤩🤩🤩🤩

@dedicatedfan_04: Good luck Kelvin ❤️🤍💙🤍

@joshbuxey: Super Kelvin Davis loves a promotion, national league be scared

@loulangdown: I like this. @SouthamptonFC staff reunion 👏 Kelv bringing in Butts & having Vince on staff brings a familiarity & connection of good football people. With Martin & Reeves influential dressing room lads, this works IMO. Credit @EastleighFC board for putting this together.