Leon Clarke: In fight with Robins boss Di Canio
Former Shrimpers loanee Leon Clarke career at League Two rivals Swindon Town appears to be over after just four games following his spat with manager Paolo Di Canio.
The striker only signed for the Robins in August but after his much-publicised disagreement with Di Canio in the aftermath of Tuesday's Carling Cup clash with Southampton, he looks set to leave the County Ground.
Clarke's problem with his fiery Italian boss started as they left the pitch following the cup encounter, with the pair having to be separated in the tunnel.
And given the public nature of the events - the incident occurred in front of TV cameras - it comes as no surprise that he will not play for the Wiltshire club again.
Clarke is expected to be sent out on loan when the window reopens next week before being sold permanently in January.
Then again, there was a time when the Southend faithful would have welcomed him back to Roots Hall with open arms after a stunning opening to his loan period with the club back in 2007, which he followed up with five goals in his first five games, and left with eight in sixteen, not bad!
However, former boss Steve Tilson grew dismayed with Clarke's lazy attitude on and off the pitch and he went back to Sheffirld Wednesday never to return to south-east Essex.
An obvious talent but with a few problems that time doesn't seem to be ironing out.
Below, we remember when Clarke was a hero rather than villain for a couple of hours.
Southend United 3 Gillingham 0 (played on Saturday, September 8th, 2007)
Loan striker Leon Clarke made himself an instant Roots Hall hero as Southend comprehensively beat Gillingham 3-0.
Despite nursing a slight hamstring injury that saw him substituted, the 22-year-old set up two Blues goals and scored their third.
Southend took the lead on eight minutes when Nicky Bailey brought the ball from his own half and swapped passes with debutant Leon Clarke before rifling a left-foot shot past former Shrimpers keeper Simon Royce from 14 yards.
The Blues could have doubled their advantage after 24 minutes when Matt Harrold's flicked header found Leon Clarke - on a three-month loan from Sheffield Wednesday - whose overhead kick was palmed over the bar for a corner by Royce.
But the hosts got a second goal a minute before half-time, with Leon Clarke again at the heart of things.
His lay-off released Alan McCormack and he pulled the trigger just inside the box to beat Royce.
Gillingham struggled to threaten Steve Collis' goal, with Gary Mulligan firing over the bar and former Southend midfielder Mark Bentley shooting wide.
The Kent side's best chance came at the end of the half when a long Steve Lomas throw from the left was headed goalwards by skipper Ian Cox at the far post but his effort was caught by Collis.
Assistant referee Matt Stewart took over the whistle for the second half after referee Grant Hegley pulled a hamstring.
Leon Clarke put Blues 3-0 up after 59 minutes after doing a one-two with McCormack and then delaying his shot before cheakily chipping an advancing Royce.
Harrold then wasted a good chance by shooting straight at Royce before Gills substitute David Graham shot over and Delroy Facey headed over the bar.
Southend skipper Kevin Maher hit Royce's left post and then the keeper came out to smother Harrold's effort from close range before substitute Mark Gower hit the crossbar.
Southend United: Collis, Barrett, Clarke, Richards, Gilbert, Black, Bailey, Black (Gower 75), Maher, McCormack, Clarke (Foran 69), Harrold (Odhiambo 84; Eric no less, now at Denizlispor in Turkey pub quizzers).
Subs not used: Wilson, Hunt.
Gillingham: Royce, Clohessy (yes, our one) (Brown 61), Cox, King, Sodje (yes, Efe), Armstrong (Graham 65), Bentley (yes, Mark), Lomas (Stone 84), Southall, Facey, Mulligan.
Subs not used: Stillie, Cogan.
Attendance - 11,348 (those were the days)
(Report first appeared in The Little Gazette; Saturday, September 7th, 2007.)
A last minute equaliser in Bristol: www.southendunited-mad.co.uk
The Clarke Files
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leon Marvin Clarke | ||
| Date of birth | 10 February 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Wolverhampton, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Swindon Town | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2003–2007 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 74 | (13) |
| 2004 | → Kidderminster Harriers (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2006 | → Queens Park Rangers (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2006 | → Plymouth Argyle (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2007–2010 | Sheffield Wednesday | 83 | (18) |
| 2007 | → Oldham Athletic (loan) | 5 | (3) |
| 2007–2008 | → Southend United (loan) | 16 | (8) |
| 2010–2011 | Queens Park Rangers | 13 | (0) |
| 2011 | → Preston North End (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2011– | Swindon Town | 1 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:00, 26 August 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). |
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(Player info supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon_Clarke)