Webb: 'I'll do what I can until the end of the season to help out Tilly and Ron'
He's back, and this time he's not going to be insulted.
For those around the first time around, or second, Webby has always been the original Southend messaih, (pre-Tilly copyright), the best there is, the man who might have taken us to the top tier if Jobson had behaved, (pre-Fry copyright), the boss who actually led us to the top of the old second division for a few hours after we'd beaten Newcastle 4-0 on a cold but glorious New Years Day 1992.
Not so glorious the millenium comeback tour, though the free coaches and the 2-2 draw from two down at Blackpool was quite fun.
Like trying to resurrect a relationship with an old partner, sometimes it's best to be left with the memories.
Still, as ever, a good piece of PR by Chairman Ron, of which we hope this one has a happy ending.
So what is the oldest Artful Dodger this side of Peterborough actually going to do? Well, keep us in League One, with Tilly's help of course. He only wants to be Steve's best mate.
Talking to www.southendunited.co.uk Webby said: "I am not coming here to take over. I am here, to coin an old fashioned phrase, in a consultant role. Equally, I'm not coming here to be insulted or to insult other people but to just help the team be the best it can be. Steve is a good manager, he had proved that with his record but sometimes luck can go against you."
Nice trophy
He's certainly Uncle Ron's mate, giving the Blues chairman a boost to his character that he wouldn't have heard a lot of recently.
Webb continued: "I really like him because he genuinly wants the best for Southend United and so I feel sorry for him when things aren't going well. Ron asked me if there was anyway that I could help out and even though it meant dropping a few things I was willing to do it to help out until the end of the season."
What was interesting was the Monday evening contact between Ron and Webby soon after the big Brush-off, so much for giving Tilly time. Those demonstrations after the Exeter game a bit close for comfort.
Oh well, Ron Martin economical with the truth is an old headline.
Though the news of Webby's latest Roots Hall return came only an hour after my lament to the whole current sorry situation at Southend was posted I stand by it, as I stand by the team to save me from trying to get a decent pint in Lincoln next season.
And avoiding relegation is something I certainly agree with Tilly's new best friend about.
He concluded: "It will be nice to rally the troops and get the supporters behind the whole club because we are in for a tough battle. I have been in these situations before and I'm going to be honest and say I haven't always got out of them. The majority of the time I have been successful though and turned it around but it's not a foregone conclusion. What is important we get some points on the board and it doesn't matter how we do it."
'Once more unto the breach, dear friends', when does the Spread open?
The Webb Files
We all hate Leeds and Leeds........
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | David James Webb | |
| Date of birth | 9 April 1946 (1946-04-09) | |
| Place of birth | Stratford, London, England | |
| Playing position | Defender | |
| Senior career1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1963-1965 1965-1968 1968-1974 1974-1977 1977-1978 1978-1980 1980-1983 1983-1984 | Leyton Orient Southampton Chelsea Queens Park Rangers Leicester City Derby County A.F.C. Bournemouth Torquay United | 62 (3) 75 (2) 230 (21) 116 (7) 33 (0) 26 (1) 11 (0) 2 (1) |
| Teams managed | ||
| 1980-1982 1984-1985 1986-1987 1988-1992 1993 1993-1997 2000 2000-2001 | Bournemouth (player-manager) Torquay United (player-manager) Southend United Southend United Chelsea Brentford Yeovil Town Southend United | |
| ||
Does not include fourth stint in charge during November 2003 when he was caretaker manager between Steve Wignall and current boss Steve Tilson.
And of course his new position as assistant manager!
(Information supplied by Wikipedia, for the full article go here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Webb_(footballer)
(Taken from an article written in the Editors' Chair on Shrimpers24)