Southend United are expected to unveil either Don Mackay or Steve Wignall as their next manager today.

The new boss faces a baptism of fire with two games in a four-day period over the Easter Bank Holiday period, starting with promotion-chasing Torquay at Roots Hall tomorrow, followed by a first-ever league trip to struggling Boston United on Monday.

Blues owner Ron Martin confirmed he had set his sights on former Shrimpers goalkeeper Mackay, 63, or ex-Colchester chief Wignall, who is 48.

And he hoped one of the duo would be in charge against Torquay tomorrow, ruling former Southend coach Steve Thompson and current caretaker boss Stewart Robson out of the vacancy for the Roots Hall hot-seat.

"I have been impressed with both candidates and will make my decision today," Martin explained.

"Steve Wignall has a lot of experience and Don Mackay has been a dark horse who has come into my thinking late for the job.

"We want the right man to take Southend forward, who will fit into the set-up we want at the club, working alongside Stewart Robson and utilising his coaching skills.

"The board interviewed each candidate for 30 minutes, asking specific questions we needed answering, and we deliberated what we had heard for nearly three hours.

"I do have somebody in mind, but I need to speak to that person and agree terms before making an announcement.

"Ideally, I would like them in place for our home match against Torquay, but if that doesn't happen, Robson will take charge again while we sort things out with the man we want."

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Published Friday, April 18, 2003

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