The search is on for a new man at the top after Southend United manager Alvin Martin resigned.

The 40-year-old decided to call it a day after the team's 1-0 home defeat by Hull City on Friday, a result which leaves Southend just six points away from the Third Division's bottom club, Scarborough.

More than 200 angry fans stayed behind after the final whistle demanding Martin's resignation.

A teary-eyed Blues chairman, John Main, emerged with a loud speaker at 10.30pm to meet the supporters in the car park and inform them that their wish had been granted.

He said: "Following this latest result against Hull and a discussion with the manager I can tell you that Alvin Martin has resigned.

"He has only ever been interested in what is right for this football club and I must say that I'm very sad that things haven't worked out for him here.

"But whoever takes this job on next will not be more committed or work as hard for Southend United as Alvin has.

"My own personal belief is that he is a sound and sincere man and there have been many reasons why things haven't worked out for him at Roots Hall, including a lack of funds."

Main also confirmed that Martin's assistant, Mick Gooding, would be put in temporary charge of team affairs for tomorrow night's match at Rochdale.

An emotional looking Martin eventually left the ground at 11.30pm and was consoled by a few fans who had waited for him to leave Roots Hall.

He wasn't prepared to make any comment on Friday or over the weekend, but simply said: "I'm going to go home and have a good cry," before he got into his car and drove home to Romford.

Martin became Southend boss in July 1997 when ex-Southend chairman Vic Jobson appointed the former England and West Ham defender as Ronnie Whelan's successor.

Southend had just crashed out of the First Division and would suffer a second consecutive relegation to the Third Division during Martin's first season in charge.

Southend are now back in the bottom division for the first time in nearly ten years.

Gone - Alvin Martin

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