Southend's Tilson Gardening Leave. STURROCK In

Southend appoint Paul Sturrock

Southend Official Site - NEW MANAGERIAL TEAM APPOINTED
Posted on: Mon 05 Jul 2010
Southend United are pleased to confirm Paul Sturrock as their new first team manager this morning.

Paul has today signed a three-year contract at Roots Hall, which will keep him at Southend until 2013.

Joining as Paul's assistant will be Tommy Widdrington who has also agreed a three-year deal.

53-year-old Sturrock comes to Southend with a wealth of experience having enjoyed successful managerial spells in all four divisions of English football.

He first cut his teeth however in charge of then Scottish First Division side St. Johnstone in 1993 guiding them to promotion four years later; before he was appointed manager of Dundee United.

Leaving Scotland in 2000 the former international took charge of Plymouth Argyle who were then struggling in the Third Division. After a boardroom shake-up he steered the Pilgrims to the Third Division title the following season accumulating a club record 102 points.

Article continues
Advertisement

The following year he took Plymouth to the top of the Second Division before leaving Home Park with 12 games remaining. Sturrock picked up the reigns at Southampton, then in the Premier League, with Plymouth going on to gain promotion to the First Division.

His spell at the Saints was short lived - lasting just six months - but he wasn't out of work long ending up at Sheffield Wednesday just four weeks later as he guided them to the League One play-off final and subsequent promotion thanks to a 4-2 extra time win against Hartlepool United.

Born in Aberdeenshire, Sturrock then moved onto Swindon Town where during his first season he achieved promotion from League Two.

He returned to Plymouth Argyle in 2007/08 and proceeded to take them to their highest league finish in 20-years - 10th in the Championship before beating the drop the following season. In December 2009 Sturrock was moved into a Business Support Role at Home Park before leaving Argyle in April this year.

38-year-old Tommy Widdrington, who had been working as manager of Salisbury City last season, will assist Paul.

The former Southampton midfielder made 75 appearances for the Saints over a six-year spell and also enjoyed a playing career that included time at Grimsby Town, Port Vale, Hartlepool United and Macclesfield Town.

He joined Salisbury City as a player in 2005 where he made the transition from player to coach and eventually took over the first team reigns in July 2009.

However, Salisbury suffered from financial problems last season and were deducted 10 points for going into administration. Had not happened they would have finished 6th in the Blue Square Premier.

Salisbury were relegated two divisions at the end of last season after breaking Conference financial regulations.

Paul and Tommy will be unveiled to the media at Roots Hall later today.

Widdrington photo courtesy of Denis Murphy/www.sport4salisbury.com

www.southendunited.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10444~2084183,00.html