Southend United's plans to relaunch their reserve team next season will bring an end to Premier League side West Ham United's use of Roots Hall for their second string, it was announced today.

"We have to do what is right for Southend United and that means getting our reserve team up and running again next season," said Blues chairman John Main.

"After discussions between the two clubs it has been decided that we can't accommodate our own first and second team along with West Ham's reserves, so their tenancy with us will finish at the end of this season."

Blues scrapped their reserve side two seasons ago and formed a "special relationship" with the Hammers under the regime of former chairman Vic Jobson, which was supposed to help both the Irons and the Shrimpers.

Benefits of the bond were expected to see Southend pick up loan players from West Ham and make use of special training provided by the Hammers, such as goalkeeping coaching.

However, disgruntled Seasiders supporters, already outraged that West Ham were allowed to use Roots Hall for their home Football Combination Fixtures at the expense of Southend's reserve team, failed to see these benefits appear.

In fact it was only on last month's transfer deadline that Blues finally signed two players on loan from Upton Park - young midfielder Lee Hodges and defender Chris Coyne.

The Third Division club's fans also saw the agreement between the two clubs as a threat to their own identity, fearing that the Hammers would use Blues as a nursery club.

"I must stress that we have a very good working relationship with West Ham, as we must have with all clubs, but this so called "special relationship" will no longer exist," added Main.

"Getting rid of Southend's reserve side was the worst thing this club has ever done and I'm sure it is a major influence on our current position of struggle.

"Not having an active second string has hindered our chances of developing youth players and has prevented a long list of injured players from regaining match fitness.

"It is vital that Southend United have a reserve team to push the club forward as it is an integral part of our future plans."

Main denied that West Ham's exit from Roots Hall would be a major financial loss - it is believed the Shrimpers picked up a flat fee of £1,000 for every match the Hammers played at their ground.

West Ham will now play their reserve team fixtures at near neighbours Leyton Orient's Brisbane Road home next season.

"Both clubs have decided it is best for West Ham to leave Roots Hall," said a Hammers spokesman.

"Southend feel their pitch can't cope with three teams playing on its surface and it is easier for us to send our reserves to Orient because it is nearer to Upton Park. "This will bring an end to the 'special relationship' between the two clubs which was something devised between former executive managements."

The editor of Southend fanzine What's the Story Southend Glory!, Tony Hall, welcomed the news of the split between the two clubs.

"Most Southend fans never wanted West Ham here in the first place and it's about time we got our own reserve team back," he said.

"Not only has a lack of reserve team football hurt our team on the field, it has also built up a lot of resentment and bad feeling towards West Ham which never existed before."

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