Horndean boss: I hope Benny Read doesn’t come back and terrorise us!’

But the Deans manager joked he hopes the Hawks defender still has a soft spot for his former club ahead of a return to Five Heads Park.

Read will turn out against his old side on Saturday as Horndean complete their pre-season friendly programme with the visit of Paul Doswell's National League South side.

The full-back is a player Birmingham knows well having spent three seasons working with him after joining from Lymington in 2016.

Read, 22, departed Horndean for the Hawks last summer and flourished after stepping up three levels of the non-league pyramid.

The former Sheffield United and Crawley trialist has just signed a two-year contract extension with the Westleigh Park outfit following his rapid progress.

And Birmingham has no doubt he can play higher.

‘There will be a lot of people excited to see Benny coming back,' he said.

'He did extremely well last season with Havant, he was unbelievable.

‘He’s a good lad and all the best to him as well.

'Hopefully he doesn’t come back and terrorise us too much - hopefully he’s got a soft spot for Horndean.

‘I always follow him and always drop him a message wishing him good luck, everything like that.

‘He’s got his feet under the table now and just got himself a new contract.

‘From what I’ve heard, he really, really, really deserved it.

‘I can only see bright things for the boy.

‘People say his height lets him down, but his recovery pace is phenomenal.

'The way he drives at people, he moves the ball so well and his crossing has come on leaps and bounds.

'He’s a good lad.'

Hawks’ visit completes Horndean's friendly programme.

It comes on the back of meetings with higher level Bognor and Gosport Borough over the course of the past week, with supporters allowed back in for both of those 3-0 losses.

Birmigham admitted he would be surprised if the Hawks game was not a sellout as current restrictions only allow 150 fans to attend.

He is also relishing the test his team will face ahead of a tricky FA Cup curtain-raiser at Bemerton Heath next Tuesday.

'I’d be surprised if it’s not a sellout,' added Birmingham.

'What a powerful side they are.

‘They’ve made some really good signings, but have lost some real good players as well.

‘They had a big clear-out at the end of the season.

‘But the signings they’ve made, they’re no mugs, they’re going to be one of the favourites up there again.

'After the friendly we’ve got a tough FA Cup game against Bemerton and we’ve got a tough first league game against Bournemouth Poppies at home.

‘We’ve got a real big seven or 10 days coming up.'