Perhaps the most surprising release is that of Phil Whelan. Until the start of the season, Whelan was the club’s captain, although it was widely regarded that he was not the right man for the job. A 100% professional footballer, the centre-back has been at Roots Hall since signing on a free transfer from Oxford United in June 2000. One of the higher earners at the club, the ex-Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town defender has been troubled seriously by back troubles, which have also led to difficulties in his knee and other joints this season, and that will no doubt have played on Newman’s mind. To date, the ex-England Under-21 star has made exactly 100 Third Division appearances for the Shrimpers, and his entire Southend career stretches to 119 games, with eight goals scored.
The other two changes come up front. Ex-Wigan Athletic front man signed on the back of a sensational 32-goal season in 1996/7 alongside Newman. The partnership was rekindled at the start of the campaign when the former Norwich City defender paid St. Johnstone £10,000 for the striker’s services. However, Jones has flopped, playing through injury at the start of the season and then finally collapsing with groin problems in his right leg. Fingers have been pointed at the old physiotherapy staff at Roots Hall for his signature in pre-season, with recent claims suggesting that the injury was sustained up to four years ago. So far the Gateshead-born forward has netted just three goals in twenty-two starts for the Shrimpers, and with his current situation it is unlikely that he will add to that record. Jones is still ten shy of 100 goals in his career, a target he wished to reach by the seaside.
22-year-old Barrington Belgrave completes the set. The Bedford-born performer has disappointed in the last few months after showing promise following his September 2001 signature from Yeovil Town. Indeed, ‘Bazza’ was Seasiders legend David Webb’s final signing in his third spell with the team. His disappointing campaign, which had already sunk to new depths when he failed to help a spectator “Shoot For The Car” at half-time in the match against Rochdale, became simply disgraceful when he put in a pathetic performance in the Essex Senior Cup defeat to Chelmsford City. With a strike rate of two goals in 16 games at reserve level, Belgrave’s attitude and commitment were seriously under fire, and after ten goals in sixty games at Southend he has been told he can leave.
Newman told the club’s official website, www.southendunited.co.uk that, “It’s a decision that wasn’t very easy to make, but it’s one that you do have to make in football”. However, the threesome will not be immediately on their way out. The Bristolian player-manager has a small squad to choose from and will keep them in his thoughts until the end of the season. With Blues looking to push for promotion, Newman is keeping his options open.
On the other side of the coin, strong central defender Leon Cort has been offered a new contract. The ever-present ex-Millwall man, who Newman wishes to keep at the club for years to come, is one of fifteen players (excluding those released today) whose contracts are up for renewal at the end of the current campaign. Cort’s name may be added to in the weeks to come, with other talents such as Tesfaye Bramble and Steven Clark without deals for next season. However, the 39-year-old also had a stark warning to those on the fringes of the side, revealing that, “There’s players on the periphery of the squad who need to show me in a short space of time that they want to be here because if they don’t show me that then they’re definitely not going to be here”.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com