Stephen Broad admitted today his release from Southend United had come as no big surprise at all.

The centre-half was handed a free transfer by Blues boss Steve Wignall following an injury ravaged campaign, which restricted the popular 22-year-old to just 18 first team starts.

But the former Chelsea reserve team skipper, who made a total of 59 league appearances for the Seasiders, said he was far from shocked by his Roots Hall departure.

"I fully expected to be released to be honest," admitted Broad. "I've had a nightmare with injuries and the manager hasn't seen me play in the first team -- it was his coach Stewart Robson's decision.

"But the new boss is also going to have his own players in mind, so it was no big surprise that I didn't get offered a new contract.

"I am disappointed as I liked being at Southend. I've had my ups and downs at Roots Hall, but I always enjoyed being part of the club."

"At the start of the season the old manager, Rob Newman, was talking about me and Leon Cort forming Blues' long-term central defensive partnership.

"But now I find myself out of work and looking for a new career following a horrendous catalogue of injuries. I've never known anything like it.

"I had to have a hernia operation at the start of the year and after bouncing back from that problem, I started having trouble with my hamstring and back.

"And to top it all I dislocated my shoulder during the last reserve team game of the season at Norwich and I'm still four weeks away from a full recovery. All the injuries have just killed me."

Broad said he would now look for a new start in non-league soccer.

Published Wednesday, May 21, 2003

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