Southend United's forgotten man - midfielder Simon Livett - was expected to part company with the Third Division club today.

The Shrimpers have offered to pay-up the remaining six months of the 31-year-old's contract, enabling the former West Ham player to rebuild his career away from Roots Hall.

"The club have offered me a lump sum to move on and I expect to complete the paperwork today," said Livett, who has failed to make a first-team appearance this term.

"Southend are doing me a favour because I can now go out and find a new club, rather than wait until the end of the season when it could be harder to get fixed up."

Ex-Southend boss Alvin Martin gave Livett, his former Upton Park team-mate, another crack at league football with the Seasiders last season.

The dead-ball specialist had drifted onto the semi-professional circuit after short spells at Leyton Orient and Cambridge United, and was rewarded with a one-year contract at Southend after a string of creditable performances.

Livett also played a major-role in keeping Blues out of the Conference League drop-zone last term under Martin's successor Alan Little.

However, Livett, who has played 23 league games in all for the Shrimpers, scoring one goal, is disappointed at the way his Southend career is set to end.

"I'm gutted really because I don't think I've been given much of a chance to stake my claim this term," added Livett, who is being tracked by a couple of Ryman Premier League as well as two Irish teams.

"At the start of the season the gaffer told us that we all had a clean slate and would have equal opportunity to gain a first-team place, but I don't think that's been the case for me personally.

"I haven't even been able to get a game in the reserves for the last seven weeks, despite being fully fit.

"I even offered to play left-back so I could get some match fitness under my belt, but I didn't get a sniff.

"Southend must be looking for other qualities in players, which I obviously don't have, so I'll have to go away and relaunch my career with another club."

Livett, though, believes he still has what it takes to claw his way back into league football and win another professional playing contract elsewhere.

"I've seen most of the teams in the Third Division this season, which makes me confident I can still play at this level," he said.

Blues' reserves were due to play Millwall at Roots Hall this afternoon, kick-off 2pm, in the Avon Insurance Combination League.

Moving on - midfielder Simon Little is leaving Roots Hall under mutual agreement

Picture: ROBIN WOOSEY

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.