The 54-year-old, who scored 12 goals in 73 games for the southeast Essex side before moving to Crystal Palace, remains a firm follower of his local side, and believes that Tilson, a former player under his leadership, has all the prerequisites to lead the club into a successful reign.
“Tilly has done very well to get Blues promoted into League One,” Taylor said as he prepared for his Coca-Cola Championship newboys’ clash with the Nationwide Conference outfit. “He rings me most weeks and comes over as somebody who is in control and it’s obvious the players enjoy playing for Steve.”
Hull City’s manager went on to offer a short resume on his beliefs in Tilson’s style of management. “I’m sure he can lose his head with them at times, but he is pretty calm and I am sure he can be successful.” Taylor succeeded Barry Fry as the boss at Roots Hall, and remained in the hotseat for fourteen Division One months until Ronnie Whelan took over.
The Rochford-born local hero, who still has many connections to the area despite coaching as far away as Leicester City and Brighton & Hove Albion in recent times, also revealed that he was on the verge of rejoining the club when Rob Newman left the Shrimpers in March 2003.
“I was certain I would be manager of Blues again that summer,” commented Taylor. “Ron Martin was fully behind bringing me back, but the other directors weren’t. I came close to joining Blues before I went to Brighton [with whom he won Second Division promotion in 2002], but I had just come out of the Premier League and didn’t want to go all the way to the bottom division.”
Current chairman Martin appeared to be on a one-man mission to obtain the ex-wingers’ services, but in the end the deal fell through, with disastrous consequences for Taylor’s relationship with Rob Newman. “Ron had changed his mind about Rob running the club and we met for talks. He offered me the job and had even told Rob what he was planning to do, which is why there has been a bit of bad feeling between us.”
And if Taylor had been appointed, the pathetic period under Steve Wignall may have been averted, and Tilson may never had acquired the job. “The club pulled out at the last minute. My wife rang to say she had received a fax from Blues. They had changed their minds about me and I was ready at the time to be Southend manager again.”
One day, long after his double-promotion with the Tigers and Steve Tilson’s spell as Shrimpers boss is over, Taylor still hankers for a return to the Hall. “I still feel very strongly about Blues,” he declared. “I’m a Southender through and through and one day I want a second chance at Roots Hall.” A far more experienced man-manager and fine coach, Taylor may be right man for the job some day. And it may also be the right time.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com