Club captain Chris Dyton believes Southend have taken the First step towards turning around their disappointing season following the appointment of First XV coaching partnership Dave Masden and Alan Miles.

The two men replace Gary Jones, who left earlier in the season due to family commitments, and face the task of reviving the fortunes of a club struggling in London Two North with just one win to their name.

Dyton certainly likes what he has seen on the training ground so far. He said: "We're optimistic. We've got some good players who haven't really gelled and hopefully, it will all come together now we can get in some proper training sessions.

"Already the sessions have looked good. Obviously it takes a while to filter through but in two or three weeks there ought to be an improvement.

"What we have lacked is a game plan. Hopefully they will be able to give us a plan to focus on week in, week out."

Dyton added:"It seems to us that we have certain strengths, particularly among the forwards and the line-out. In fact, I think we have the best line-out in the League by a fair margin. But the back line has been disappointing all season. It's getting the right combination and hopefully they can make the difference."

Masden, a former Southend player who coached at Brentwood last season, will coach the backs while Miles, who has extensive playing experience in Scotland, will take on the forwards. But Dyton has dismissed any claims that having two coaches might lead to some friction.

"Both are outspoken, determined characters and I can't really foresee any problems. The early indication is that they can work together.

"The benefit of having both rather than one overall leader is that Dave, as a player-coach, can't see some things from the sidelines and that's why it will be good having Alan there."

The acid test comes on Saturday when Southend play their first competitive game since before Christmas. The London League strugglers take on Brentwood, Masden's former club, but the new coach may have to sit the game out on the sidelines after picking up an injury.

Southend had scheduled Saturday's friendly against their London League rivals to blow away the cobwebs after a period of inaction, but any hopes of a morale-boosting victory were ended by a rampant Chelmsford side at Warners Park.

The visitors were far better organised than the decidedly rusty Southend side, and it took only five minutes for Chelmsford to run in the first try. Four further scores were posted before Southend even got themselves on the scoreboard with a Mark Brock penalty.

However, the home side regrouped during half-time and restricted Chelmsford to just one second-half try, while Wayne Davy ran in a late score to give Southend a welcome boost prior to next week's return to League action against Brentwood.

Optimistic - Southend's skipper Chris Dyton

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