ANT: SHRIMPERS CAN BE BIG FISH

Midfield man has faith in Powell

ANTHONY Wordsworth believes there are good times around the corner for Southend United – which is why he’s keen to stay a Shrimper.

The 29-year-old midfielder is out of contract this summer, but has already seen enough from manager Chris Powell, appointed in late January, and his coaching staff to suggest that Roots Hall could be a positive place to be next term.

“Since Chris Powell has come in, we have kicked on and we are looking up,” said Wordsworth, who joined Southend three years ago.

“It’s been a stop-start season for me. A niggly calf injury kept me out for a bit and I was injured when Chris arrived.

“I couldn’t show him what I was capable of, but once I was fit he put me in the team and I want to repay him with some good performances.

Repay

“I was getting pretty close to sorting out a new contract with (former manager) Phil Brown and the chairman (Ron Martin), but then Chris came in and, understandably, he wants to see what everyone can do.

“I’m just working as hard as I can, and what I have seen so far from Chris and the coaching staff has been very positive.

“With a full pre-season to work on the way they want to play and by signing a few players, it could be a very successful time – and I want to be a part of it.

“The manager has won promotion before from this division with Charlton and he was very successful there. He’s been brilliant so far.

“If an offer does come from the club, I would think about it very carefully.”

Powell’s predecessor Brown did an excellent job in earning promotion from League Two and establishing the Shrimpers back in League One.

But after just missing out the play-offs last term, this season saw results slide before Southend old boy Powell replaced him. Pre-weekend, a run of one defeat in his first ten games had lifted them to 12th in League One.

The Shrimpers were seven points off the play-off places and ten above the relegation zone in a tightly packed table.

It looks very much as though Southend will be in League One again next term, though Wordsworth is still hoping they can put a late run together to spring from the pack.

“I think we need to win at least six (of our last eight games) to have a chance,” he said before their Good Friday game at Plymouth.

“We are playing some teams in and around the play-offs, so hopefully we can take some points off them and crack on. We want to get as close as we can.”

Even if it becomes a bridge too far this term, Wordsworth believes the appointment of Powell has given the club a lift.

Successful

The former Colchester and Ipswich midfielder added: “He was a successful player at Southend and had a brilliant playing career. The fans are pleased to have him back.

“Kevin Keen and Damian Matthew (assistant managers) have been brilliant on the training ground and we’ve picked up some decent results.

“Phil was unlucky with injuries this season and Chris has had a full squad to choose from. He’s changed the formation and tweaked one or two things, but I don’t want to give too much away!

“We have worked better as a team and that’s been reflected in the number of clean sheets we’ve had recently.”