Steve Thompson admitted today he was desperate for a second crack at the Southend United manager's job.

Blues are expected to make an appointment on Friday and the big northern bruiser wants to replace sacked Shrimpers boss Rob Newman.

I've got a hold on you - Damon Searle gets his shirt tugged but turned in a good performance at left back for Blues against Bournemouth on Saturday. Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

Thompson became Southend manager on a caretaker basis at the end of the 1994-95 season, following the dismissal of Peter Taylor, and pulled off a miracle keeping the seemingly dead and buried Seasiders in the First Division.

But the former Sheffield United defender jumped ship to Notts County during the mid-season break, after being offered the Roots Hall position full time, a decision he said he regrets to this day.

"Hindsight makes things a lot clearer and I should have stayed at Southend," said Thompson, who is on Blues' managerial short-list.

"I did have a disagreement with the chairman at the time, Vic Jobson, but we later patched things up and I would love to come back to Roots Hall and finish the job I started.

"Blues have been in the doldrums for far too long and I'm desperate for the chance to turn things around at Southend.

"I know the people of the town will get behind the club and the challenge of getting Southend out of the Third Division and climbing back up the leagues again really excites me."

Thompson, 47, is statistically Blues' best ever manager on a results basis, winning eight, drawing two and losing four of the 14 First Division matches he was in charge -- a success rate of 64.29 per cent.

His most recent managerial post was at Sheffield United, where he led the Blades to an FA Cup semi-final defeat against Premiership Newcastle, as well as the First Division play-offs in 1998.

Since then, Thompson has worked with Howard Wilkinson as part of the England under-21 set-up and has been scouting for Cardiff City boss Lennie Lawrence.

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Published Monday, April 14, 2003

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