Moving Southend United's fans back into the North Bank could cost as much as £15,000.

Blues supporters have clamoured for a return to the traditional Roots Hall "home" end and the Shrimpers have investigated the financial implications of making the switch.

The North Bank currently houses travelling spectators and Southend would need to pay for new segregation barriers and gates, plus ticketing and catering facilities if they were to open the turnstiles to their own fans again.

Blues co-owner Ron Martin said: "We have a good idea how much it would cost to carry out the work needed to upgrade the North Bank for our supporters.

"And the price won't be prohibitive to the scheme as we can accommodate it."

However, Martin said he needed a strong response from Roots Hall fans to bring a North Bank return a step closer to reality. There will be a slip in tonight's programme for Hartlepool's visit, asking fans for their thoughts on the proposed move.

And the Shrimpers supremo wants everybody's views: "We need to know what the cross-section of the Roots Hall supporters genuinely feel about a North Bank return.

"It is important that we get everybody's view on this subject and we have even reduced tonight's programme by 20p in an attempt to get as much feedback as possible.

"If the fans want to return to the North Bank then they need to come out in strong numbers and tell us through our poll.

"I would be disappointed if only 30 per cent of the Roots Hall crowd get back to us - we want everybody."

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Published Monday October 28, 2002