FORMER Swindon Town striker Brett Pitman has joined National League side Eastleigh on loan from Bristol Rovers until the end of the season.

The 34-year-old will link up with Town hero Tom Broadbent at the Silverlake Stadium after being allowed to explore other options by Gas manager Joey Barton.

Pitman scored 12 goals in 42 games for Swindon last term before moving to the Memorial Stadium in the summer and going on to net four in 18 for Rovers.

But with his Gas career sputtering to a halt under Barton, Pitman opted to move back to Hampshire where has enjoyed previous success with Portsmouth.

The Jersey-born forward will hope to inject some life into a struggling Spitfires attack which has managed just 26 goals in 24 games this term.

Defensively, ex-Town defender Broadbent has been unable to help prevent a lull at the back too, having featured in 13 of the past 15 games as Eastleigh lost their previous four outings by an aggregate scoreline of 9-0.