RICHARD Duffy, one of Eastleigh's most high-profile summer signings, has left the club before so much as kicking a ball.

The experienced 30-year-old defender, who agreed a two-year deal at the Silverlake late last month after leaving Port Vale, has today completed a move back into the Football League with Notts County.

Duffy, who won 13 caps for Wales, had been offered terms to remain at League One side Port Vale, but chose to join Eastleigh's quest for National League promotion instead.

The Spitfires have subsequently agreed release him and he today signed a one-year contract for Notts County, who finished 17th in League Two last season.

A Spitfires club statement said: “Eastleigh FC can today announce that defender Richard Duffy has spoken with manager Chris Todd prior to the commencement of pre-season training to inform him that he has received an offer from an English Football League (EFL) team for the 2016/17 season which he has been unable to ignore.

"Having discussed the whole situation thoroughly with the player Chris fully understood that, not only did Richard wish to continue to play in the EFL but the benefit to his family life, with the EFL team being close to the Duffy family home, it was an offer that could not be dismissed.

"After the conversation it was agreed that Eastleigh FC would not stand in the player's way and permission was given for Richard to sign for EFL Club.”

Spitfires’ boss Chris Todd, who had made fellow Welshman Duffy the third of nine summer arrivals, said: “Whilst I am clearly disappointed that Richard will not be joining my squad for the 2016/17 campaign, it is vital that the whole team are here in soul as well as body next season and that they are all fully focused on the job in hand.

“It is no secret that we will be going for promotion again this year, this is clear from the signings we have made so far this summer and, with everything taken into consideration, I felt it was best that we allowed Richard to go elsewhere if he was not 100% focused on the club’s main objective.”

Todd added: “We are still working exceptionally hard to strengthen the squad and I would like to take this opportunity to thank my chairman Stewart Donald for the way he has supported me so far in the summer transfer market.

“I hope we can add one, or maybe two, more names to the squad before we get going in the next week or so”.

Speaking on Notts County's official website, Duffy said he was relishing the opportunity at Meadow Lane.

“When they gave me a call and said would you want to come, there was only one answer really," he admitted.

"I hope to bring a bit of experience and leadership."