What lies ahead for Patters after Hatters?: 'I've not spoken to anyone at Southend United'

Paterson: 'Crazy that a big club like Stockport now find themselves in the Conference'

Stockport County finally lost the good fight and joined Tilly's Lincoln City in relegation to the Conference but Southend striker Matt Paterson, on loan at Edgeley Park since February, did his best to kick-start a great escape which bar one or two good results never failed to happen.

The 21-year-old former Southampton striker, a make weight in the deal that took then top scorer Lee Barnard to St. Mary's in January 2010 but got him a two-year deal which ends next year, scored three times in ten games, with a couple of strikes helping the Hatters to 2-1 victories over Bury on debut and then Oxford.

Maybe a touch lightweight for the tough enviroment of League Two there's no doubting his talent and County fans were on the whole supportive of the youngster, sadly for him though, now that he's back at Roots Hall, that doesn't seem to be shared by Blues boss Paul Sturrock, who has never really given Matt a decent chance.

Paterson told www.echo-news.co.uk: "I've not spoken to anyone at Southend and I'm not sure what's going to happen. As I've already seen during my time at the club anything can happen in football, but I am expecting to report back for pre-season in July. However, at the moment I'm just thinking about enjoying my summer break."

One of the 'summer four' who stayed behind it soon became clear that along with Scott Spencer, who mostly spent last season on the subs bench with the Imps, he didn't figure too highly in Luggy's future plans.

And unlike Screech the 21-year-old actually scored goals this season, four in six games as a start or more likely, a substitute, and half-a-dozen goals in total over 31 appearances.

Sturrock told www.skysports.com back in March: "Everybody's got different opinions about strike-forces and which players should play with who. I just feel that Matt's not the type of striker I'm looking to have at this football club. I wish him well."

Not good news for Matt, and with rumours spreading that he's on a decent wage there will be plenty of pressure on Luggy to move him on so he can bring players he believes can help out injury prone top scorer Barry Corr.

In the meantime Patters can only look back at his time up north which he seemed to appreciate.

The Scottish born striker said: "I enjoyed my time there because the players and fans really welcomed me in and it was great to be playing again, but obviously getting relegated was horrible. It was a bitter pill to have to swallow and it's crazy that a big club like Stockport now find themselves in the Conference."

Might be where you have to return Matt to get a game, though we believe he's better than that, good luck mate.

Luggy couldn't be clearer
www.southendunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/
as_patters_stays_a_hatter_matts_not_the_type_of_
striker_im_looking_at_i_wish_him_well_655722/index.shtml

The Paterson Files