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Most importantly Martin expanded on the fact that the duo would be offered an extension to their two-year contracts when Tilson returns from sunning himself in Portugal! "Steve is away on holiday right now but when he gets back we will discuss offering both himself and Paul Brush new contracts," he commented.
In addition everyone’s Player of the Season Adam Barrett will be offered an extension to his contract to lengthen his stay at his hometown. "Adam is a very good player and someone we want to keep at the club. His agent has just moved to Dorset but later this week will be offering him an extended contract although the length of the deal is yet to be discussed." Martin elaborated. Barrett, who has scored ten goals this season, has already admitted he would like to stay at Southend for some years.
Meanwhile, Tilson has been speaking to the League Manager’s Association website, www.leaguemanagers.com, about his successful 2004/5 campaign. The 38-year-old has been completing a Certificate of Applied Management in Football at Warwick University ahead of a holiday abroad.
He revealed that Blues would be struggling to compete on a financial basis with many of their League One counterparts. “It’s going to be tough,” he bemoaned. “We’re running on one of the lowest budgets in the league and last season Torquay on a lowish budget weren’t quite good enough to stay up.”
However, Tilson earmarked his strikeforce as a possible plus point in a battle to beat the drop. “Freddy Eastwood was a great capture for us, he scored 24 in 41 games, and Wayne Gray chipped in with 13 goals but we were getting goals from all over the park and that was a great plus for us.”
Strengthening the side, though, remains a priority, with a fourth striker – providing that Lawrie Dudfield remains at Roots Hall – key. “If we can add to that with two or three quality players, there is no reason why we can’t be mid-table pushing for a play-off spot.”
Finally, he rated fellow promoted sides Yeovil Town, Swansea City and Scunthorpe United’s chances of surviving in League One. Like many Southend supporters, he foresaw a decent campaign for the first two, but grouped the Iron in a band of sides similar in size to the Shrimpers.
“Swansea have the resources to go and buy players and Yeovil were the best team in the league, so these two will certainly be safe and looking for a play-off place. Scunthorpe are in a different position. They get small crowds and have a low budget so, like us, they’ll find it tough. It will be more of a struggle for us than the other two.”
By Matt Donohue and Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com