Mark Stimson revealed why he quit Southend United for Third Division rivals Leyton Orient today.

The 31-year-old left-back, who joined Blues from Portsmouth for £25,000 in 1996, has joined the Brisbane Road outfit on a free transfer following the termination of his Roots Hall contract last week.

"It's been four months since I've been involved with Southend's First team, even though I'm fully fit, and I knew that realistically I wasn't part of the manager's plans," Stimson explained.

"I'm desperate to play and my contract with Southend ran out at the end of this season, so I decided it would be in my best interests to get away now and find myself a new club."

The Shrimpers paid up Stimson's contract and following talks with Gerry Francis at First Division QPR, where he had been playing as a trialist in the reserves, the full-back opted to join the O's.

"Orient have given me a contract until the end of the season and I'd like to think that I can play a part in helping them get into the Second Division," he said.

"I know the games I played at Southend were restricted by injury, but I'm feeling fitter than I have for the last two years and I'm confident I can do a good job for Orient, who are buzzing at the moment."

However, Stimson, who made 56 league appearances for Blues, admitted he was disappointed that his Shrimpers career had not been more successful.

"I enjoyed my time with Southend and it's tragic the way things have gone downhill at Roots Hall," he added.

"When I first joined Southend we were flying high in the First Division, but since then the club has hit a downward spiral which has left them struggling in the lower reaches of the Third Division.

"But Southend is a great club and I'm sure they'll pull themselves out of their current troubles."

Stimson also paid tribute to Southend's long-suffering fans who he believed he had built up a strong rapport with.

He is now hoping to line-up against his former team-mates when Blues make the short trip to Brisbane Road on April 3.

"I'll have mixed emotions because it will be strange playing on the opposite side against people you've been training with for the last couple of years," he said.

Mark Stimson - desperate to play football after four months out at Southend

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