Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder David Lee regrets turning his back on the Blues.
The 24-year-old, from Stanford-le-Hope, will face the Shrimpers at Roots Hall tonight having left the Essex outfit for Hull City in 2001 after just one season with the Seasiders.
But after making just eight league starts in the three years since, Lee admitted he now wished he had stayed with Southend.
"Looking back now maybe I should have stayed there for longer," he said.
"I left for Hull and I thought it was going to be a good move for me.
"They doubled my money and the chairman told me they were spending £1m on players, so it would have been hard to turn it down."
But Lee failed to hold a regular starting slot with the Tigers and soon joined Peter Taylor at Brighton in 2002.
Now the central midfielder is bidding to secure a long-term future with the Seagulls after recently signing a three-month contract.
Published Wednesday July 28, 2004
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