Paddy Dunston hopes his title-winning experiences as a player with professional outfit Wasps can boost London One Southend's promotion charge.

Dunston, Southend's coach, begins the new year with his side six points clear at the top of the division. If the club can stay there, they will win promotion to the National League for the first time since the mid 90s.

But the remaining nine matches are fraught with pitfalls. And that is where 34-year-old Dunston -- who helped Wasps to titles in 1991 and 1997 -- can give his side an edge.

"I had some great times with Wasps and it was great to win the title -- I was part of the squad which won it for the first year of the professional era in 1997," he said.

"Because of that, I do know what's required at the highest level. That should help these lads -- many of whom have previously only played in London Three.

"I'll be telling them just to work hard and don't rest on your laurels. Just keep wanting to win in every game -- and I feel my players are now starting to do that."

It is easy to forget that Dunston is only in his first year as a chief coach. After a low-key position at Romford and a year as backs coach at Southend, he was promoted to the top position last summer after it was vacated by Kevin Harman.

He is hungry for success with Southend, but warned that there is a lot of hard work to be done before they can begin to celebrate a third successive promotion.

The first such test of the new year comes tomorrow when bottom-of-the-table Cheshunt are the visitors to Warners Park (2.15pm).

Published Friday, January 3, 2003

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