Wignall Appointed New Shrimpers Boss

New manager Steve Wignall in his days with the U's

The 48-year-old, who has also managed Doncaster Rovers and played for the Belle Vue side and Aldershot Town in his playing days, has been handed the responsibilty of taking United up - an experience he managed to do with the U's. The Liverpool-born manager twice guided the North Essex side into the play-offs; firstly in 1995/6 when Colchester finished 7th, and then again in 1997/8 when they defeated tomorrow's opponents Torquay United at Wembley in the final. The year before the U's had travelled to north London but lost out to Carlisle United in the Auto Windscreens Shield Final.

Wingall beat off competition from a number of prospective candidates - current first-team coach Stewart Robson, ex-caretaker manager Steve Thompson and experienced one-time Fulham and Blackburn Rovers boss Don MacKay making the final shortlist from which majority shareholder Ron Martin, deputy chairman Geoffrey King and the board of directors made their final decision. Former Portsmouth manager Graham Rix, recently sacked Colchester gaffer Steve Whitton and Cambridge United tactitian John Beck were also touted as possible supremos, but they did not pass a first interview. The less realistic Steve Cotterill and George Burley were never going to consider a Third Division job.

Meanwhile, caretaker boss Robson will not be out of employment at the end of the current campaign - after picking the side for tomorrow's clash with the Gulls he will become the new Head Coach, joining a newly-appointed sports scientist and dietitian at the club for the start of next season. Current Youth Development manager and Southend legend Steve Tilson is also expected to continue in his role at Roots Hall.

Geoffrey King told the official website (www.southendunited.co.uk), "We are very happy with the appointment, we feel we have made the right choice and we are looking forward to seeing him at tomorrow's game." Ron Martin then fired a salvo at the club's supporters by declaring, "The fans should understand that Steve Wignall is now Southend United Manager and I would hope that they will get behind him as the whole club will." Earlier in his interview with BBC Essex, Martin revealed that Wignall has secured a two-year contract and said, "For a club this size not to be in the play-offs isn't good enough", in a seemingly veiled statement towards the departure of previous boss Rob Newman.

Wignall himself merely enthused, "I'm ecstatic", as he spoke to BBC Essex (www.bbc.co.uk/essex), continuing to say, "I'm absolutely buzzing at the moment." The successful manager then outlined what he believed was his task at Roots Hall, stating, "This club has massive potential and I feel we can go a long way. There will have to be a few changes to get the consistency we need." Finally, the new boss himself pleaded with the club's followers to back him all the way, "I hope the fans will give me a chance. I've been at Colchester and been successful. I'm a Shrimper now so let's get behind each other and see where we go and hopefully we can turn the tables on them."



Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com