The Viking in his pomp: 'Whoever loses could become cut adrift'
A Shrimpers legend himself defender Paul Clark turned out 359 times for the club over a couple of spells including a period as manager.
And though he worked for a while with new assistant manager David Webb during one of Webby's many turns as the Blues boss, he was still shocked at the dismissal of Paul Brush.
Paul spoke to www.echo-news.co.uk: "Both pieces of news came as a bolt from the blue and really did surprise me. If David has come in as a consultant there is really no-one better for a job like that. But if it was not decided by Tilly and was forced on him then I think that undermines him to be honest."
However, he knows that nothing less than a win over the Grecians will do if his former club is going to start climbing away from the relegation zone.
Clark concluded: "This is a huge game and almost must win for Southend now. Whoever loses could become cut adrift from the other teams down there and it won't be easy for Southend because I know Exeter caused Colchester all kinds of problems when they went there."