Press Conference Reaction

Dudfield's move still hangs in the balance.

New manager Steve Tilson expressed his delight at having been handed the position on a full-time basis: “Obviously I am very pleased. I see it as a great challenge. I supported the club as a boy, played for the club and finally came back after being at Canvey. I have been in and around the reserves for a while now and that has stood me in good stead, it is something I am really looking forward to”.

Tilson also spoke of the advantages of his appointment; “I think me being signed now will help in the fact that those players contracts that are reaching their conclusion can now come to us [Tilson and his assistant Paul Brush] and we can be honest with them in as much as who will or will not remain here”. The Wickford-born Shrimpers legend also evaluated, “Hopefully it will not be too long until the chairman extends my stay here”.

On the prospect of new singings, Tilson added, “I think with three, maybe four additions it [the squad] can be even stronger. Once that has happened then hopefully we can start looking at the play-off and promotion places”. One such signing would be striker Lawrie Dudfield from Northampton Town, but director Ron Martin has set stringent limits on the move for the front man.

Martin told www.southendunited.co.uk, “I spoke to Lawrie Dudfield’s agent last night. We have made a proposal via his agent to Northampton to sign Lawrie Dudfield until the end of next season. I did say, however, that unless this transaction is concluded to allow him to play this Saturday, then the deal is off”. That would mean that the 23-year-old would have to be signed by the twelve o’clock deadline on Friday afternoon. Watch this space!

Dudfield, for his part, has described his spell at Southend as “my happiest time in football” to the Northampton Chronicle and Echo, and would welcome a move from Tilson and Brush. With Tilson, Brush and Dudfield all wanting a move, only the Cobblers board and management remain in the way of a transfer, although the money involved could be a sticking point for Martin.

Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com